COROLLITLOE^. 689 



and in others the bark is tonic and febrifugal. India Eubber or 

 Caoutchouc is obtained from the milky juice of several species. 



Ahtonia scholaris, a native of the East Indies, has a bitter tonic and 

 astringent bark, which is much esteemed in chronic diarrhoea and dysentery. 

 (See Sumplocos.) 



Alyxia stellata has an aromatic bark, which is analogous in Its properties 

 to that of Canella and Winter's Bark. 



Apocynum. — The roots of A. cannahinum and A. androscemifolium are 

 emetic, and slightly pm-gative. 



Aspido.iperma excelsum, a native of Guiana, is remarkable for its fluted 

 trnnk ; this is employed for making paddles. 



Carissa. — Carissa Carcmdus bears an edible fruit, which is eaten in the 

 East Indies, where it is used as a substitute for Red Currant jelly. The 

 fruits of C. edulis and C. iomentosa are also eaten in Abyssinia. 



Hancornia speciosa bears a delicious fruit, which is much esteemed by the 

 Brazilians. It is termed Mangalea or Mangava. The milky juice when 

 hardened forms a kind of India Rubl)er. Mr. Collins says that Pemambuco 

 rubber is probably derived from this species. 



Landoiphia, — L. oicariensis, L. Jiorida, and other species are said to yield 

 African India Rubber. 



Plumieria.—The flowers of P. alba and other species, natives of the West 

 Indies and some parts of South America, have a delicious odour ; and it is 

 said that the perfume known as " Frangipanni " is distilled from them. 

 P. rubra is called Red Jasmine in the West Indies. 



Rovpel/ia grata, a native of Sierra Leone, yields an edible fruit called 

 Cream fruit. 



Taberncemontana utilis, the Hya-Hya or Cow-tree of Demerara, has a 

 milky nutritious juice. 



Taiighinia venenifera, the Madagascar Poison-nut.— The seeds of this 

 plant are amongst the most deadly of poisons. It is said that one not larger 

 than an almond vrHl destroy twenty persons. It was formerly used as an 

 ordeal in Madagascar. 



Thevetia ne/uifolia.— The bark of this West Indian shrub is reputed to 

 possess valuable antiperiodic properties. 



Urceola elastica is one of the principal plants of the order yielding caout- 

 chouc. According to Mr. Collins it yields all the rubber of the Malaj-an 

 Archipelago, and which we obtain from Singapore. 



Vahea gummifera, a native of Madagascar, and other species, yield a kind 

 of caoutchouc. This kind is much valued in France, where it is sometimes 

 known as Mauritius India Rubber. 



WrigJdia.~The bark of W. antidvsenterica or Holarrhena antidysenterica is 

 febrifugal and astringent. It is called Conessi bark. The seeds have similar 

 properties. Both the bark and seeds are much used in India. From W. 

 tindoria a blue dye resembling Indigo is obtained. The wood of W. coccinea 

 and W. moUissijna are also employed in India for palanquins, and by 

 turners. 



Natural Order 145. Loganiace.^. — The Spigelia or Str}'chnos 

 Order. — Character. — Shrubs, herbs, cr trees. Leaves opposite, 

 entire, with stipules ; the latter, however, sometimes exist only 

 in the form of a raised line or ridge Cali/x {fig. 462) 4 — 5-parted. 

 Corolla {fig. 462) regular, 4—5, or 10-cleft; estivation valvate 

 or convolute. Stamens sometimes anisomerous ; anthers 2-celled ; 

 pollen 3-lobed. Ovary 2, 3, or 4-celled ; style simple below, and 

 with as many divisions above as there are cells to the ovary ; 

 stigma simple. FrvAt capsular, or drupaceo-baccate ; 'placentas 

 axile, ultimately detached. Seeds usually peltate, sometimes 

 winged, with fleshy or cartilaginous albumen. This order is by 

 no means well defined. 



