594 SYSTEMATIC BOTANY. 



The leaves when boiled and chopped into pieces are administered to nurses 

 mirier the idea that they increase the secretion of milk, G. sylvestre, a native 

 of Northern India, has the singular property when chewed of destroying 

 the uower of tasting sugar for 24 hours, without in any other way interfer- 

 ing with the sense of taste. 



Hetnidesmus indicus. — The roots are kno^vn under the names of Indian, 

 scented, and country sarsaparilla ; they were originally imported under the 

 name of Smilax aspera, from an erroneous idea of their origin. They 

 resemble sarsaparilla in their properties, and are largely used in the East 

 Indies as a substitute for it. Hemidesmus is now officinal in the British 

 Pharmacopoeia. 



Marsdenia. — M. iinctoria, a native of Silhet, produces a kind of indigo. M. 

 tenacissima has very tenacious fibres, which are used for bow-strings by the 

 mountaineers of Rajm^hl. 



Solenostemma {Cynanehum) Argel. — The leaves have been much employed 

 to adulterate Alexandrian Senna. (See Cassia, p. 524.) 



Tijlophora asthtnatica.— The dried leaves form an efficient substitute in the 

 East Indies for Ipecacuanha. 



Natural Order 150. Cordiace^, — The Cordia or Sebesten 

 Order. — Character. — Trees with alternate scabrous leaves, 

 exstipulate. Cali/x and corolla 5-merous; (estivation of the 

 corolla imbricated. Stamens 5, alternate with the segments of 

 the corolla; anthers versatile. Ovatnj 4 — 8-celled, with 1 pen- 

 dulous ovule in each cell ; stigma 4 — 8-cleft. Fruit drupaceous, 

 4 — 8-celled, or frequently some of the cells are abortive; 'pla- 

 centas axile. Seeds 1 in each cell, pendulous by a long cord ; 

 albumen none ; cotyledons plaited longitudinally. 



Distribution, ^"c. — Natives almost exclusively of tropical 

 regions. Examj^les of the Genera : — Cordia, Varronia. There 

 are above 180 species. 



Properties and Uses. — The fruits of many species are edible, as 

 those of Cordia Mi/xa and C. latifolia, called Sebestens or 

 Sebesten plums, which are eaten by the natives, &c. in India ; 

 those of Cordia abyssinica, Wanzey or Vanzey, which are 

 esteemed by the Abyssinians ; and the succulent fruits of Var- 

 ronia roticndifoHa, which are used to fatten cattle and poultry. 

 The bark of C. Mi/xa is reputed to be a mild tonic and astringent. 

 Some species, as Co7'dia Eumphii and Cordia Gerascanthus, yie'd 

 useful and ornamental timber. The wood of Cordia Myxa is 

 said to be that from which the Egyptians constructed their 

 mummy-cases. (See also Ficiis.) AnacuhuiteWood, a substance 

 recently imported into this country, and recommended as a 

 tonic, &c., is also derived from a species of Cordia. 



Natural Order 151. Convolvulace^. — The Convolvulus or 

 Bindweed Order {fffs. 971-973). — Character. — Herbs or 

 shrubs, generally twining (fiiji. 197) or trailing, and milky. 

 Leaves (fig. 197) alternate, exstipulate. Calyx (figs. 971 and 

 972) with 5 deep divisions, much imbricated, persistent. Corolla 

 (figs. 971 and 972) 5-partite or 5-plaited, regular, deciduous, 

 without scales in its tube ; (estivation plaited. Stamens 5, alter- 

 nate with the lobes of the corolla (fig. 972). Ovary (fig. 972) 

 2, 3. or 4-celled, or the carpels are more or less distinct ; ovules 



