482 SYSTEMATIC BOTANY. 



racters, according to Lindley, are as follows : — the flowers arise 

 from amongst numerous small imbricated scale-like bracts ; the 

 calyx has no glands ; the petals have at their base two parallel 

 membranous plates ; the stigmas are capitate ; the ovules are 

 sessile and truly anatropal ; and the embryo is straight. In all 

 other respects, the Erythroxylacese resemble the Malpighiacese. 



Distribution, ^"c. — The plants of this order abound in Brazil ; 

 many also occur in some other parts of South America, and the 

 "West Indies ; and a few are scattered throughout many of the 

 w;irmer regions of the globe. There is but one genus, Ery- 

 throxylon, which includes 75 species. 



Properties and Uses. — Some species of ErythroxyJon are tonic, 

 others purgative, and others stimulant and sedative. The wood 

 of E. hypericifolium, and the bark of E. suherosum are red, and 

 are used in the preparation of dyes of that colour. The wood 

 of others has a similar reddish appearance, and from this 

 common colour of the wood the name of the genus is derived. 

 The more important plants of the order are — 



Erythroxylon Com.— The leaves of this plant are much used by the natives 

 of Peru, and some other parts of South America, as a masticatory. The 

 Peruvian Indians have always ascribed to the coca, the most extraordinary 

 virtues. Thus, they believe that it lessens the desire and the necessity for 

 ordinary food, and in fact, that it may be considered as almost a substitute 

 for food. Spruce says, that an Indian with a chew of Ipadi'i (the native 

 name for coca of the Indians of the Pdo Negro) in his cheek, will go two or 

 three days without food, and without feelins? any desire to sleep. Von 

 Tschudi and Dr. Scherzer have also given similar testimony as to the effects 

 of coca. Dr. Weddell, however, speaks far less highly of its virtues. He 

 states that it does not satisfy the appetite, but it merely enables those 

 wlio chew it to support abstinence for a length of time without a feeling of 

 hunger or weakness. The use of coca is also said to prevent the difficulty of 

 respiration which is generally experienced in ascending long and steep 

 mountains. Its excessive use has been stated to be veiy injurious, by pro- 

 ducing analogous effects to those occasioned by the immoderate consumption 

 of opium and fermented liquors ; but Tschudi states that its moderate use 

 is rather beneficial than otherwise. It was computed by Johnston some 

 years since, that the annual consumption of coca was 30,000,000 lbs., and 

 that its chewing was indiilged in by about 10,000,000 of the human race. In 

 Bolivia alone 15,000,000 lbs. of coca are produced annually. The nature of 

 the constituents, which thus give rise to the peculiar stimulating, hunger- 

 allaying, and narcotic effects of coca, has not been satisfactorily deter- 

 mined, biit according to Dr. Wiemann, coca contains a new organic base, 

 wliich he has termed cocaine, and which is said to resemble in its properties, 

 &c., theine. In France a tonic wine is now made from the leaves. Coca is 

 dei=ei-ving of an extended trial in this country as a medicinal agent, &c. 



Sethia. — S. indka is in great repute in Ceylon as a vermifuge for children. 

 The leaves are dried, powdered, and given mixed with boiled rice. S. acu- 

 minaia is also used in a similar way for the same purpose. It is known in 

 Ceylon as Matura Worm Medicine. 



Natural Order 48. Cedrelacejg. — The Mahogany Order. — 

 Character. — Trees. Leaves alternate, pinnate, exstipulate. 

 Calyx 4 — o-cleft, imbricate. Petals hypogynous, of the same 

 number as the divisions of the calyx, imbricate. Stamem twice 

 as many as the petals and divisions of the calyx, either united 



