CALTCIFLOR^. 553 



tlon. This oil has the property of dissolving caoutchouc. In Australia, the 

 leaves of M. scoparia and genistifolia are used as substitutes for Tea. 



EucalyjitKS rcsinij'era, the Iron Bark, anativeof Australia and Van Diemen's 

 Land, yields on incision an astringent substance, called Botany Bay Kino. 

 This kino contains a peculiar substance called Eucalyptin. It has been em- 

 ployed in diarrhoea. Other species yield a similar substance. The leaves of 

 E. mannifera and other species natives of Australia, spontaneously exude a 

 saccharine substance resembling manna, henre this secretion is commonly 

 termed Australian Manna. It is said to drop from the trees in pieces 

 sometimes as large as an almond. The secretions of the Eucalypti are com- 

 monly of a gummy nature, and hence they are called Gum-trees in New- 

 Holland. The bark of some of them separates in tibrous layers, which has 

 occasioned them to be also called Stringy-bark trees or Stringy-bark Gum- 

 trees. They are sometimes of a prodigious height, — 200 feet or more, and 

 10 or 15 feet in diameter, the trunks being destitute of branches to a height of 

 from ion to 200 fee't. 



Metrosicleros The Lignum Vitce or Aki of New Zealand, and other species, 



afford valuable timber. The clubs and weapons of the South Sea Islanders 

 are made from species of this genus. 



Leptoxpermunt. — The leaves of L. scoparium and Thea are used in the 

 Australian colonies as a substitute for tea. 



Punica Granatum, the Pomegranate, is repeatedly referred to in the Bible. 

 It is the rimmon of the Bible, and the rooman of the Arabs. This plant is by 

 some systematists regarded as the type of a distinct order, which is named 

 GranatecB. The leaves, the flowers, and the fruit, were all used by the 

 ancients for their astringent properties, and the juice of the fruit also, in 

 the formation of cooling drinks, on account of its acidulous taste. The 

 flowers and fruit are still employed in the East. The flowers are the Balaus- 

 tion of the ancients, whence their common name, balaustina flowers. The 

 rind of the fruit, and the bark of the roots, are the parts now commonly used 

 as medicinal agents in this country. These are employed for their astringent 

 properties, and the latter is also commonly regarded as a valuable anthel- 

 mintic, but for this purpose the bark of the fresh root should be alone used. 

 The properties of the pomegranate are principally due to tannic acid, and 

 also partly to gallic acid. The bark of the fresh root also contains a peculiar 

 acrid principle called punicine. 



Psidium. — Various species of this genus jield excellent dessert fruits, which 

 are commonly known under the name of Guavas. The more important are, 

 P . pyriferum, P. pomiferum, P. Cattleyanum, P. albidum, and P. pygmeum. 



Glaphyria nitida, is called by the Malays, the Tree of Long Life. It is also 

 known ;is the Tea Plant, from its leaves being used as tea at Bencoolen. 



Myrtus connnunis, the Common Myrtle.— The dried flower-buds, and 

 the unripe fruit, were used as spices by the ancients, and are still so employed 

 in Tuscany. By distillation with water, the flowers form a very agreeable 

 perfume, known in France as Eau d'Ange. 



Caryophyllus aromaticiis, the Clove-tree. — The dried flower-buds con- 

 stitute the cloves of commerce, which are so well known as a spice; and in 

 medicine, for their aromatic, stimulant, and carminative properties. Their 

 properties are chiefly due to the presence of a volatile oil. The dried unripe 

 fruits are called mother cloves ; they are used in China and other countries 

 as a spice, and are occasionally imported into this country. They are very 

 inferior to ordinary cloves. 



Eugenia Pimenta, the Common Allspice. — The dried unripe fruit is 

 known under the names of Pimento or Jamaica Pepper, or more commonly 

 as Allspice (from its flavour combining that of Cinnamon, Cloves, and Nut- 

 megs). It is used as a spice, and in medicine in similar cases to cloves. 

 Its properties are chiefly due to the presence of a volatile oil. The Rose- 

 Apples of the East, which are much esteemed as dessert fruits, are the 

 produce of various species of Eugenia ; the more important are, — E. malac- 

 censis, E. aquea, and E.jambos. In Brazil, the fruit of E. caulifiora, the 

 Jabiiticaba, is also much esteemed. The leaves of E. ugni, are used in Chili 

 as a substitute for Paraguay Tea. The plant has been recently introduced 

 into this country on account of its fruit, but not with any great success. 



Natural Order 107. Lecythidace^. — The Brazil-Nut or 

 Monkey-Pot Order. — Large trees, with alternate, dotless 



