530 SYSTEMATIC BOTANY. 



as to the source of some of the commercial kinds. That varietj- known com- 

 monly as Alexandrian Senna is generally considered to be derived from Cassia 

 officinalis, var. lanceolata (the Cassia acutifolia of Home and some other 

 authors), anA C.obovaia. Pereira also thought that it sometimes contained 

 the leaflets ot C'. cethiopica, but we have never succeeded in finding any 

 in Alexandrian Senna. This is the kind generally most esteemed in this 

 country, but it is frequently adulterated with the leaves of other plants, as 

 those of SolenostcDwia Argei, Tepkrosta Apollinea, &c., from which it is 

 readily distinguished by the inequality of its leaflets at the base. The Com- 

 mon East Indian, Mecca, or Bombay Senna is supposed by Royle to be the 

 produce of C. officinalis, var. acutifolia j according to Pereira it is derived 

 from C. elongaia of Lemaire, while Forskiil states it to be from C. lanceolaUt 

 of Forskiil and Lindley. Tinnivelly Senna is furnished by C. officinalis, 

 var. elongaia (C. lanceolata of Royle). It is a very fine kind. The above 

 three varieties are those generally used in England, and are officinal In oiir 

 Pharmacopoeias. Other commercial varieties are Tripoli Senna, from C. cethio- 

 pica i Aleppo Senna, from C. obovaia ; and American Senna, from C. 7nari- 

 landica. Cassia Fistula {Cathartocarpns Fistula). — The fruit, which is. inde- 

 hiscent, and divided into a number of cells by spurious dissepiments (^fig. 

 699), contains a reddish-black pulp with a sweetish taste, which possesses 

 laxative and purgative properties. C. braziliana, probably only a variety of 

 the preceding, has a larger longer and rougher fruit, which also possesses pur- 

 gative properties. It is commonly used in veterinary medicine, and is known 

 as Horse Cassia. The bark of C. auriculnta is saicT by Roxburgh to be em- 

 ployed for tanning and dyeing leather. The flowers are also used for dyeing 

 yellow. The seeds of C. absus, under the name of Chichon or Cismatan, 

 are used in Egypt as a remedy in ophthalmia. 



Tumarindus indica The fruit of this plant is the well-known Tamarind. 



It contains an agreeable acidulous, sweet, and reddish-brown pulp, which is em- 

 ployed medicinally in the preparation of a cooling laxative drink. When the 

 pulp is mixed with sugar, it is frequently employed as a preserve. 



Hymenaoa Courbaril, the West-Indian Locust-tree, is supposed to furnish 

 <ium Anime or Eas-t-lndian Copal. Some of the East- Indian Copal is, how- 

 ever, probably obtained from H. verrucosa. This, and other kinds of Copal, 

 are extensively used in the preparation of varnishes. Brazilian Copal is 

 considered to be furnished by several species of Hyniencca, and by Trachy- 

 lobium martianum. At least three kinds of Copal are also obtained from 

 Africa, under the respective names of African Copal. African Yellow -gum, 

 and African Red-gum. Some of these are also, probably, derived from species 

 of Hyniencea, and from Guibourtia copalUfera. Mexican Copal is also supposed 

 to he derived from a species o{ Hymencea, The inner bark of H. Courbaril is 

 said to possess anthelmintic properties. The seeds of the same plant are 

 imbedded in a mealy substance, which is sweet and pleasant to the taste, and 

 when boiled in water, and the mixture afterwards allowed to undergo ferment- 

 ation, an intoxicating beverage is obtained. This tree grows to a large size, 

 and its timber under the name of Locust-wood, is used by ship-carpenters. 



BauMnia J'ahlii, raceniosa, and parviflora furnish fibres which are used in 

 making ropes. B. retusa produces a kind of gum. B. variegata has an as- 

 tringent bark, which is used in medicine, and for tanning and dyeing leather. 

 Tiie buds and dried flowers of B. tomentosa are also astringent, and are 

 employed in dysentery, &c. Other species oi Bauhinia are used in Brazil for 

 their mucilaginous properties. 



t'o/)rt;/(;«.— Several species of this genus, as C. multijuga, C. officinalis, 

 C. l.angsdorjii, C. coriacca, kc, yield the oleo-resin, commonly known under 

 the name of Balsam of Copaiba. This is obtained by making incisions into the 

 fitems of the trees. C. pubijiora, and probably C. bracteata also, furnish the 

 Purple Heart or Purple Wood of Guiana, which is largely employed for making 

 musket-ramrods, &c. 



Dinliitni indicum yields a fruit called the Tamarind Plum," the pulp of 

 which has au agreeable slightly acidulous taste, somewhat resembling that of 

 the common Tamarind. 



Codarium anUiJolium and obtusifoliutn yield fruits which are known under 

 the names of Bi ow n and Velvet Tamarinds. They are both natives of Sierra 

 Lei'iie. The pulp of both species is eaten, and has an agreeable taste. 



Morn rxri-lsa.— This jilant, which is a large tree, a native of Guiana, fur- 

 nishes the Mora Wood employed largely for ship-building. 



Ceratonia Siliqua.—Thv ripe fruit of this plant is known under the names 



