652 CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE NATIONAL HERBARIUIM. 



3. Sapium biloculare (S. Wats.) Pax in Engl. Pflanzenreich IV. 147': 221. 



1912. 



Sebastiania bilociilaris S. Wats. Proc. Amer, Acad. 20: 374. 18S5. 



Sonora and Baja California ; type collected between Rayon and Ures, 

 Sonera. 



Shrub or tree, sometimes 6 meters high; leaves 3 to 7 cm. long, short- 

 petiolate, often glaucescent, rounded to acuminate at apex, glandular-serru- 

 late; fruit 2-celled, about 1 cm. long. " Hierba de la flecha " (Sonora, Baja 

 California); "hierba mala" (Sonora); " mago," " magot " (Opata). 



This plant, like Sebastiania pavoniana, produces "jumping beans" (see 

 p. 648). The juice is poisonous as in other species, and in Baja California 

 the finely chopped branches are thrown in water to stupefy fish. Exposure 

 to smoke from the burning wood or sleeping in the shade of the tree is said 

 to cause sore eyes. The juice is said to be used by the Opata Indians to 

 poison their arrows, but according to McGee * the evidence to this effect is not 

 conclusive. 



This is probably the plant to which Clavigero (Historia de la California, 

 1789) makes reference, as follows: 



" Among the few plants of California there are some harmful ones, one of 

 which is a certain shrub called by the Spaniards of that region palo de la 

 flecha, for from it the Indians dwelling along the coast of Sonora obtain the 

 terrible poison with which they poison their arrows, so as to cause mortal 

 wounds. The Californians, although they are acquainted with the evil pro- 

 perties of the plant, have never employed it." 



Tlie leaves are broader in Baja California specimens than in those from 

 Sonora, but it is doubtful whether th.e peninsular plant differs essentially. For 

 an illustration of the tree see Contr. U. S. Nat. Herb. 16: ;;?. 117, B. 



4. Sapium m^acrocarpum Muell. Arg. Linnaea 32: 119. 1863. 

 Sapium mexicanuni Hemsl. in Hook. Icon. PI. pi. 2680. 1901. 

 Guanajuato to Morelos. 



Tree, 4.5 to 9 meters high ; leaves 7 to 15 cm. long, 2 to 4 cm. wide, acute 

 or obtuse, long-petiolate, obscurely denticulate ; seeds nearly 1 cm. long. " Palo 

 lechon," " hincha huevos " (Morelos). 



The juice causes inflammation if it comes in contact with the skin. The 

 wood is weak and soft. 



5. Sapium pedicellatum Huber, Bull. Herb. Boiss. II. 6: 352. f. 9. 1906. 

 Sinaloa to Colima. 



Tree of medium size; leaves 5 to 12 cm. long, long-petiolate, acuminate or 

 short-pointed, serrulate; seeds 5 to 7 mm. long. " Higuerillo bravo" (Colima). 



28. STILLINGIA A. Garden in L. Mant. PI. 19. 1767. 



Reference: Pax in Engl. Pflanzenreich IV. 147': 180-199. 1912. 



Glabrous shrubs ; leaves alternate or opposite, petiolate, glandular-serrate ; 

 flowers monoecious, apetalous, spicate, the spikes usually terminal ; capsule 

 3 or 2-lobate. 



A few herbaceous species occur in Mexico. 



The dried root of S. sylvatica L., a United States species, is oflicial in the 

 U. S. Pharmacopoeia. The plant is known locally as " queen's-delight " and 

 " yaw-root." The root is said to contain an alkaloid, stillingine. The fluid 

 extract is used in large doses as an emetic and cathartic and in smaller ones as 



*Ann. Rep. Bur. Amer. Ethnol. 17: 259*. 1898. 



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