STANDLEY TREES AND SHRUBS OF MEXICO. 301 



Cimarron," "pan ciniarron " (Porto Rico) ; " curarador," " trompeto," " sarno," 

 " mata-cliande," " sarcillejo " (Colombia); " sangre de toro " (Guatemala); 

 " sancho amargo " (Argentina, Uruguay) ; " yagrumo macho " (Santo Domingo). 

 Probably some of the other names listed for B. arborea are applied also to this 

 species. 



The plant contains an alkaloid, protopine. The yellow or orange juice is very 

 bitter and acrid and has a disagreeable odor. It is used for treating ulcers, skin 

 eruptions, chilblains, bronchitis, and chronic ophthalmia, and to remove warts, 

 and is said to have vermifuge and purgative properties. The leaves, too, are 

 sometimes heated and applied as a poultice to wounds. In Colombia an infusion 

 of the roots is valued as a remedy for jaundice and dropsy. In Jamaica, it is 

 stated, the leaves are rubbed on house floors to keep away insects, and in Co- 

 lombia the oil extracted from the seeds is used to destroy vermin on the head 

 and skin. 



Robelo gives as vernacular names in Mexico " cocojegiiite " (from cococxi- 

 huitl), " clacojegiiite " (from tlacoxihiiitl) , and " guachichile" or " guachichil " 

 (from cuau-chilli, "tree-chile"). He states that the plants were used in pre- 

 conquest days to adorn the temples. 

 4. Bocconia latisepala S. Wats. Proc. Amer. Acad. 25 : 141. 1890. 



Nuevo Leon ; type from Guajuco. 



Plants 1 to 2 meters high, with numerous stems; leaves 14 to 30 cm. long, 

 with few broad lobes, pale beneath. " Mala mujer." 



This plant is said to be a herbaceous annual, but it is so closely similar to the 

 other species, all of which are fruticose, that it seems best to include it here. 



49. CAPPARIDACEAE. Caper Family. 



Shrubs or trees ; leaves alternate, stipulate or estipulate, simple and entire or 

 palmately compound ; flowers mostly perfect, often large and showy ; sepals 4 to 

 8, free or connate ; petals 4 or rarely none ; stamens 6 to many ; fruit capsular 

 or baccate. 



Many herbaceous representatives of the family occur in Mexico. 

 Leaves compound. 



Fruit an inflated capsule; leaves glaucous 1. ISOMERIS. 



Fruit baccate ; leaves green. 



Petals 4; fruit long-stipitate 5. CRATAEVA. 



Petals none; fruit sessile 7. FORCHAMMERIA. 



Leaves simple. Fruit baccate. 



Petals none 7. FORCHAMMERIA. 



Petals present. 



Petals blue ; leaves 1 cm. long or shorter 6. SETCHELLANTHUS. 



Petals never blue ; leaves much more than 1 cm. long. 

 Sepals connate. Fruit large, with hard pericarp, sessile. 



2. MORISONIA. 

 Sepals distinct or nearly so. 



Stamens numerous; sepals all similar in size 3. CAPPARIS. 



Stamens 9 to 12 ; inner sepals smaller than the outer. 



4. ATAMISQUEA. 



1. ISOMERIS Nutt. ; Torr. & Gray, Fl. N. Amer. 1: 124. 1838. 

 1. Isomeris arborea Nutt; Torr. & Gray, Fl. N. Amer. 1: 124. 1838. 



Baja California and western Sonora. California, the type from San Diego. 



Shrub, 1 to 2 meters high, or sometimes herbaceous, ill-scented, the wood 

 hard and yellow, the young branches glaucous; leaflets 3, oblong, 2 to 3 cm. 



