644 SYSTEMATIC BOTANY. 



more stamens, and 2-celled anthers. Female flowers with a 

 superior ovar}-, 1 or more celled, with 1 or 2 suspended ovules in 

 each cell. Fruit of 1, 2, 3, or many dry carpels, which separate 

 from the axis and from each other, and usually open with elas- 

 ticity ; or fleshy and indehiscent. Seeds siispended. Embryo 

 in fleshy albumen, with a superior radicle. 



Distribution, dfc. — They are more or less distributed over the 

 globe, and are especially abundant in Equinoctial America. 

 Examples of the Genera : — Euphorbia, Mercurialis, Ricinus, 

 Rottlera, Xylophylla, Buxus. There are above 2,500 species. 



Properties and Uses. — The plants of this order generally con- 

 tain an acrid poisonous principle or principles, which is found 

 more or less in all their parts. In proper doses many are used 

 medicinally as emetics, purgatives, diuretics, or rubefacients. 

 Some are very deadly poisons. A pure starch, which is largely 

 employed for food, may be obtained from some plants of the 

 order; while caoutchouc may be procured from the milky juice 

 of others. A few are entirely devoid of any acrid or poisonous 

 principle, and are employed medicinally as aromatic tonics. 

 Some have edible roots ; others yield dyeing agents ; and some 

 are employed on account of their wood. 



Acalypha indka. — The expressed juice of the leaves possesses emetic and 

 expectorant properties. The root is purgative. 



Aleurites triloba, the Candle-nut tree.— The oil obtained by expression from 

 the seeds is called Kiikui or Kekune ; it is largely employed in some parts 

 of the world, and has been lately imported into London. It is used as an 

 artist's oil, and has been recommended as a purgative. It resembles castor 

 oil in its action. 



Anda brazil iensis.— The seeds yield by expression a fixed oil. Both the 

 oil and seeds are active cathartics. 



Buxus. — B. sev)pe7-vivens, the Box-tree, is valuable for its timber, which is 

 much used by wood engravers. Its leaves are purgative. B. balearica, the 

 Turkey-box, also yields valuable timber. 



Croton. — The seeds of C. Tiglium constitiite the croton or tiglium seeds of 

 the Materia Medica ; these yield by expression the officinal oil termed croton 

 oil, which is a powerful hydragogue cathartic in doses of from half a 

 drop to two or three drops. It is also employed externally, as a rubefacient 

 and counter-irritant. The seeds are used in India as purgative pills, under 

 the name of Jamalgata pills. The seeds of C. Roxburghii {Bnliospermum 

 montannm), C. Pavaiia, and C. oblongi/olivs have similar purgative pro- 

 perties to those of C. Tiglium, C. Eluteria of Bennett, a native of the Bahama 

 Islands, yields the aromatic, bitter, and tonic bark, coiTimonly known as 

 cascarilla bark, and which is officinal in the British Phannacopoeia. It 

 has an agreeable smell when bm'nt, hence it is also used for fumigation and 

 as an ingredient in pastilles. C. Pseudo-China yields the Quilled Copalche 

 bark of Pei-eira, and (.'. suberosum is probably the source from whence 

 Corky Copalche bark of the same author is obtained. Copalche barks in 

 their medicinal properties resemble cascarilla. The aromatic bark known 

 as Malambo bark is the produce of C. Malambo. It is a favourite medicine 

 in Columbia in diarrhoea, and as a vermifuge, and is also used externally in 

 the form of an alcoholic tincture in rheumatism. In the United States it 

 is reported to be employed for adulterating ground spices. C. lacciferum, a 

 native of Ceylon, and C. Draco, a native of Mexico, yield resins which are 

 useful for making varnishes, &.c. The spirituous liquor known in the West 

 Indies as Eau de Mantes, and useful in irregular menstruation, is obtained 

 from C. balsamiferum. 



