528 SYSTEMATIC BOTANY. 



Senna on the continent. They form the Sent Sauvage, or Wild Senna of 

 France. 



JEschynomene paludosa.— The stems of this plant furnish Indian rice paper, 

 the Sho/a of India. This must not be confounded with the Chinese rice 

 paper. (See Aralia). They are remarkably light and spongy, and hence are 

 commonly used for making floats and buoys for fishermen, and at Singapore, 

 for the manufacture of very light hats. A fibre called Duchai Hemp, is ob- 

 tained from JEschynomene cannahina. 



Alhagi Mauroriim, Camel's Thorn — This plant and other species related 

 to it, secrete in Persia and Affuhanistan, a kind of manna. This substance is 

 obtained by simply shaking the branches. It is highly esteemed by the Aff- 

 ghans as a food for cattle. It has been supposed to have been the manna upon 

 which the Israelites were fed in the wilderness, but such an idea is undoubtedly 

 incorrect. 



Soja hispida.— The legumes of this plant are used in India, &c., in the pre- 

 paration of a sauce called Soy. It is imported from thence in large quan- 

 tities. 



Mncuna pruriens The hairs covering the legumes of this species and 



those of M. prurita, are sometimes used as a mechanical anthelmintic, under 

 the name of Coivhage or Cow-iich. An infusion of the root of M. pruriens is 

 also used in India as a remedy for cholera. M. urens and altissitfia furnish a 

 black dye. 



Buteafrondosu.— This plant is a native of India. It yields an astringent gum 

 called hutea gum, which resembles Kino in its properties, and is sometimes 

 forward.d to tliis country under that name. It is used in India n diarrhoeas 

 and similar diseases, and also for tanning. &c. The dried flowers of this 

 species, and those of B. superba, are known under the names of Tisso and 

 Kessaree flowers. They are extensively used in India in the production of 

 beautiful yellow and orange dyes, and have l)een imported into this country. 

 The fibres of the inner bark of B. frondosa are known under the name of 

 Fulas cordage. 



Voandzea. — The seeds of this plant resemble those of the Arachis hypngcea 

 in being edible. They are boiled and eaten as peas. Their native name in 

 Surinam is Gobbc. 



Abrui precatorins. — The seeds are used as beads, for making rosaries, neck- 

 laces, 6cc., hence their common name of prayer-beads. They are of a scarlet 

 colour with a black mark on one s'de. They are reputed to be poisonous. 

 The roots resemble those of the Liquorice plant, and hence the name of 

 JVild Liquorice by whicli this plant is sometimes known. 



Pterucarpus P. Marsupium is the source of the officinal Kino of our 



Pharmacopoeias, which is known under the names of East Indian, Amhoyna, 

 or Malabar Kino, or in the shops as Gum Kino. It is a powerful astringent. 

 p. erinuceus, a native of West Africa, yields a similar astringent sni)StMnce, 

 c-ilied African Kino. East Indian Kino is that commonlv met with in this 

 country. Some other species appear to yield similar products. Red Sandal 

 or Jied Sander's Wood is obtained from P. santalinus. It is used in medi- 

 cine as a colouring agent, and also by the dyer for the production of red and 

 scarlet dyes. It contains a peculiar colouring matter, f a lesinous nature called 

 Santaline. P. dalhergioides is said to yield the Andam m Red Wood. It is 

 a valuable timber tree, and is also useful as a dyeing material. The bark of 

 P.fldviis is used in China for dyeing yellow. P. Draco is one of the plants 

 from which the Dragon's Blood of commerce is obtained. This is sometimes, 

 but improperly, called Gum Dragon. The true Gum Dragon of the shops is 

 yielded by a .species of Astragalus. (See Astragalus, p. ."527.) 



Ditlbi-rgia. Several species of this genus are good timber trees. The most 

 valuable of them all is D. Sissoo. In India its wood is called sissoo and 

 Sheeslinm. East Indian Ebony or Black Wood, is obtained from D. latifolia. 

 (Sf e a.\st> Diospy/os ) 



Triplo/omcea The Rose-wood of the cabinet-makers is said to be obtained 



from several species of this genus, natives of South America. 



Andirn inrrmis ; The Cabbage-Bark Tree — The bark of this tree, known 

 as CabiiaKe-bark or Worm-bark, was formerly much used as an anthelmintic. 

 It possesses cathartic, emetic, and narcotic proiierties. In large doses it is 

 poisonous. The wood is said by some authors to furnish the Partridi/e-wood 

 of the cabinet-makers. By others this is said to be produced by Ileis/cria 

 voccinea (Olacacra-). (See p. 499. ) A. retusa yields a bark with similar pro- 

 perties, which is known under the mine of Surinam Bark. 



