CALTCIFLOR^. 529 



Geoffroya vermifuga, spinulosa, and other species possess barks which have 

 similar properties to those from the species oi Andira. 



Dipteryx oduraia — The seeds of this platit, which is a native of Guiana, 

 have a very powerful and agreeable odour, which is due to the presence of a 

 volatile oil containing Coumarine. They are used for scenting snuflF and in 

 perfumery, and ate comtnonly known under the name of Tonquin or Tonka 

 Beans. Coumarine is also present in other plants of this Sub-order, as in the 

 seeds and flowers of Melilotus officinalis and ccerulea, as already noticed. 

 Fragrant seeds are also obtained from D. oleifera. They are the Eboe-Nuts 

 of the Mosquito shore. 



Sophora japunica — The dried flower-buds are extensivfly used in China, 

 for dyeing yellow. They are known under the name of Wai-fa. 



Bowd'chia virgiVoides. — The bark of this plant, with that of one or more 

 species oi Bijrsonima (Malpighiaceae), is said to form the American Alcornoco 

 or Alcornoque Bark of commerce. (See Byrsonima,^. 489 and 490.) It is 

 used by the tanners. 



Myrospermicm toluiferum. — Balsam of Tolu is obtained by making incisions 

 into the bark of this plant. Balsam of Peru is also obtained from a species of 

 Myrospernium, called by Pereira Myrospennum of Sonwnate. as it grows on 

 the Sonsonate coast of San Salvador ; from which district our supplies of 

 Balsam of Peru are now obtained. Sinre the lamented death of Dr'. Pereira 

 the tree has been called by Dr. Royle M. Pereira, a name which, out of com- 

 pliment to the memory of that distinguished man it is desirable to retain. By 

 some authors M. Peruiferum, a native of Peru, is considered to be the source 

 of the commercial Balsam ^ but this must be incorrect, as no supplies of 

 Balsam are now obtained from Peru. Balsam of Peru is known in com- 

 merce under the names of Sonsonate or St. Salvador Black Balsam. Two 

 other medicinal products are also derived from 3/. Pereira, namely. White 

 Balsam, which is obtained by pressing without heat the interior of "the fruit 

 and seed; and Balsamito, or Essence or Tincture of Virgin Balsam, which is 

 made by digesting the fruit (deprived of its winged appendages) in rum. A 

 peculiar crystalline substance has been obtained by Stenhouse from White 

 Balsam, to which he has given the name of JMyroxocarpine. 



Caslanospermum australe — The seeds when roasted are said to resemble in 

 flavour the chestnut. The plant is a native of New South Wales. 



Sub-Order 2. Cesalpixie.e. — The plants of this sub-order are principally 

 remarkable for their purgative properties. "Many important dye-woods, and 

 several tanning substances are also obtained from plants of this sub-order. 

 The fruits of some again are edible, and none possess any evident poisonous 

 properties. The more important are the following : — 



HcematCKcylon campechianum. — The wood is employed in dyeing, and as an 

 astringent and tonic in medicine. It is commonly known under the name of 

 Logwood. It contains cry^Uine colouring principles called hcematin and 

 hcematoxylin. 



Parkinsonia acuUata.— Useful fibres are obtained from the stems of this 

 plant. 



Guilandina Bonduc, the Nicker Tree — The seeds are reputed to be 

 emetic and tonic. They are very bitter. The bark also possesses bitter and 

 tonic properties. 



Poinciana pulcherrima.— The roots are said to be tonic, and the leaves 

 to have purgative properties. 



CcEsalpiJiia. — The twisted legumes of C. coriaria are powerfully astringent, 

 and are extensively used in tanning under the name of Divi-divi or Libi-dibi. 

 The legumes of C. 'Papai&re employed for a similar purpose, but they are very 

 inferior to them. They are caWed Pi-pi. C. Sappan furnishes the Sappan, 

 Bookum, or Bukkum-wood of India. It is used for dyeing red. The roots of 

 the same tree, under the names of Yellow-wood and Sappan-root, are sometimes 

 imported from Singapore, and employed for dyeing yellow. C. echinata fur- 

 nishes Nicaragua, Lima, or Peach-wood, which is very extensively used in 

 dyeing red and peach-colour. C- crista is the plant from which Brazil-wood is 

 obtained. It is used for dyeing yellow, rose-colour, and red. C. Brasiliensis 

 furnishes another dye-wood, called Braziletto-wood, which produces fine red 

 and orange colours. The exact species furnishing the above three dye-woods 

 cannot, however, be said to have been altogether ascertained. 



Cassia. — The specie's of this genus are generally characterised by purgative 



properties. The leaflets of several species furnish the Senna of commerce, of 



which there are several varieties. Sorre imcertaiuty, however, still prevails 



M M 



