THALAMIFLOE^. 469 



celled. Seeds solitary or numerous, frequently arillate, without 

 albumen ; embryo straight. 



Diagnosis. — Trees or shmbs with a resinous juice, and with 

 opposite simple coriaceous exstipulate leaves. Sepals and petals 

 usually having a binary arrangement of their parts; the former 

 imbricated and frequently unequal; the latter equal and hypo- 

 gynous. Stamens almost always numerous ; anthers adnate, 

 without a beak, opening by a pore or transversely. Disk Heshy 

 or lobed. Ovary superior, with sessile radiant stigmas, and axile 

 placentas. Seeds exalbuminous. 



Distribution, ^'c. — Exclusively tropical, and especially occur- 

 ring in moist situations. The larger proportion of the plants of 

 the order are natives of South America, but a few occur in Ma- 

 dagascar and the African continent. Examples of the Genera : — 

 Clusia, Grarcinia, Mesua. There are 150 species. 



Properties and Uses. — The plants of this order are chiefly 

 remarkable for yielding a yellow gum-resin of an acrid and pur- 

 gative nature. In many cases, however, the fruits are edible, 

 and are held in high estimation for their delicious flavour. The 

 seeds of some are oily, and some are good timber-trees. The 

 more important plants are as follows : — 



CaJophyUum. — C. Calaba is said to yield the resinous substance kno-^vn as 

 East Indian Tacamahaca. This is stated to resemble myrrh, and to be useful 

 as an application to indolent ulcers. C. Jnoplii/Uum and C. braziliense also 

 yield similar resins. From the seeds of C. Jnophijllum also an oil is obtained 

 by expression, which is the Bitter Oil, or Weaml'ee, of Indian commerce. It 

 is in great repute throughout the East Indies and Polynesia as a Liniment in 

 rheumatism, pains in the joints, and bruises. The timber of the same plant 

 is also applied to several useful purposes. C. angusti/olium, the Piney-tree, 

 furnishes valuable timter. 



Calysaccion longifolium. — The dried flower-buds of this tree constitute, 

 ^•ith those of Mema ferrea, the Nagesur, Nag-kesar, or Nag-kassar of the 

 Indian bazaars (see Mtsua). 



Clusia.— Clusia flava, C. alba, and C. rosea, yield a glutinous resinous 

 matter, which is used in some parts of the West Indies in place of pitch. 

 C.^ai-a is called in Jamaica the Balsam-tree. In Xevis and St. Kitfs the 

 three species are kno%\Ti indifferently under the names of Fat Pork, ilonkey 

 Apple, and Mountain or Wild Mango. The flowei-s of C. insignis also 

 yield a resinous substance in Brazil. 



Garcinia. — The officinal and -well-known drug G-amboge has recently been 

 sho^\-n by Hanbury to be the produce of Garcinia 2Iorella,Ya.T. pedicellata. 

 Commercial Gamboge is obtained from Siam, but the plant yielding it has 

 been ti-ansported to Singapore. Siam Gamboge is the only commercial kind 

 in Europe. It occurs in two forms :— 1st. In the form of cylinders, which 

 are either soUd or hollow, and commonly named pipe or roll Gamboge. 2nd. 

 In large cakes or amorphous masses, called lump or cake Gamboge. The pipe 

 Gamboge is the finest kind. Gamboge is used in medicine as an active hy- 

 dragogue and drastic purgative. It 'is also an anthelmintic. In over-doses 

 it acts as an acrid poison. Gamboge also forms a valuable water-colour, 

 and hence is much used in painting ; it is also employed to give a colour to 

 the lacquer-varnish for brass-work, &c. In India, a .smm-resin resembling 

 Siam Gamboge, and identical ^nth it in its properties, is obtained from 

 G. picforia. It is only found in irregular masses. 



The Mangosteen, which is reputed to be the mo-t delicious of all fruits, is 

 obtained from G. Mangostana, a native of Malacca. This plant has recently 

 produced fruit ia stoves in this country. The rind is astringent, and has 



