C0R0LLIFL0E.13. 587 



Star-apple. It is much esteemed in the "VTest Inrlie?. Other pperies of 

 ChrysophyUnm also yield edible fruits. C. Buran/ieim yields an astringent 

 bark called Jlonesia hark; which has been mnch eniployed in France and 

 Germany. It contains a principle called mo?iesine, which is analogous to 

 sapotiiiie. Monesine has been also employed as a medicinal agent. 



Jsonandra Gutta, the Gutta Percha or Taban-tree.— This is a native of 

 Singapore, Borneo, Simiatra, and other Eastern Islands. From this, and 

 probably other species of Jsonatulra, the raluable substance called Gutta 

 Percha is obtained. The Gutta Percha tree is now extinct in Singapore. 

 The annual importation of Gutta Percha into this country is 20,000 c-svt. 



Liicuma. — Several species yield edible fruits. 



Mimusops. — The fruit of several species is employed as a dessert ; that of M. 

 Elengi is the Surinam Medlar. The bark of M. Elengi also possesses astiingent 

 and tonic properties ; and in Southern India the fragrant nectar distilled from 

 the flowers is used as a perfume and as a stimulant medicine. The fntit of 

 M. Kaki is also much eaten in India. The seeds of some species yield useful 

 oils. Several species, as J/. Elengi, M. iiulica, M. hexandia, yield hard, 

 heavy, and durable timber. The Bully- tree of British Guiana is also by some 

 authors regarded as a species of Mimusops. (See Achras.) 



Natural Order 143. Styeacace.^. — The Storax Order. — ■ 

 Character. — Trees or shrubs. Leaves simple, alternate, exsti- 

 pulate. Flowers axillary. Calyx inferior or superior, 4 — 5- 

 parted, or almost entire, persistent. Corolla of from 5 — 10 petals, 

 either united at the base, or distinct ; (estivation imbricate, or 

 somewhat valvate. Stamens equal in number to the petals, or 

 twice, or thrice as many, more or less coherent at the base; 

 anthers 2-celled, roundish or linear. Ovary superior or inferior ; 

 style simple. Fruit drupaceous, always more or less fleshy. 

 Seeds 1 usually in each cell, sometimes more ; embryo in the 

 midst of abundant fleshy albumen, wnth a long radicle. Miers 

 has divided the Styracaccce into two orders, called Sym'plocace/s 

 and Styracaccce, the former of which is essentially distinguished 

 by its inferior ovary, imbricated aestivation of corolla, and 

 roundish anthers. 



Distribution, cf"c?. — The plants of this order are sparingly dis- 

 tributed in warm and tropical regions ; a few only are found in 

 cold climates. Examples of the Genera : — Symplocos, Styrax. 

 Miers enumerates about 120 species. 



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

 remarkable for yielding stimulant balsamic resins. Some yield 

 dyeing agents, but these are of little importance. 



Styrax. — The plants of this genus frequently yield stimulant balsam.ic resins. 

 S. Benzoin, the Benjamin tree, is the source of the well-known concrete Bal- 

 samic resin which is commonly, but improperly, called Gum Benjamin. It 

 is obtained from incisions in the bark. Two kinds are distinguished in com- 

 merce under the names of Siam and Sumatra benzoin. The fomier is most 

 esteemed in England. Benzoin is used in medicine as a stimulant expectorant. 

 It is, however, chiefly employed for the preparation of benzoic acid ; and on 

 account of its agreeable odour when heated, for fumigations in the ceremonies 

 of the Roman Catholic and Greek churches, and also as an ingredient in Aro- 

 matic or Fumigating Pastilles, and in Court or Black Sticking Plaster. In 

 Brazil other species of Styrax yield similar balsamic resins. S. officinale, 

 a native of Greece, the Levant, and Asia Minor, has been supposed by many 

 to be the source of our commercial Liquid Storax ; but Hanbuiy has proved 

 that while it was the source of the original and classical Storax, this has in 



