662 CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE NATIONAL HERBARIUM. 



tree ascends in the Ancles to an altitude of 3,600 to 3,900 meters, but often 

 occurs at much lower altitudes. It thrives in dry, sandy soil and can endure 

 extended drought. The pepper-tree is said to have been introduced into Mexico 

 by Don Antonio de Mendoza, the first viceroy, who sent the seeds from Peru. 

 The specific name, nwlle, is the name by which the tree is known in western 

 South America, and is derived from mulli, the old Peruvian name. 



Schinus molle is an excellent shade tree and a handsome one, remaining 

 green throughout the year. The only objection to it is the fact that it harbors 

 the black scale, which is a serious pest of citrus fruits. The wood is useful 

 for various purposes and the bark for tanning skins. When fragments of 

 the leaves are placed in water they execute quick jerking movements, due to 

 the sudden discharge of the oil which they contain. The fruit contains a 

 volatile oil, and has a flavor resembling that of a mixture of fennel and pepper. 

 The seeds are sometimes used to adulterate pepper. In Mexico the fruit is 

 ground and mixed with atole or other substances to form beverages. An 

 intoxicating liquor, known as " copalocle " or " copalote " is obtained by fer- 

 menting the fruit with pulque for one or two days. 



The pepper-tree is much used in local medicine. The powdered bark or its 

 decoction is used as a i-emedy for swollen feet and as a purgative in domestic 

 animals ; it is reported to have astringent and balsamic properties. The gum 

 which exudes from the trunk is bluish white, acrid, and bitter, and burns 

 with a pleasant odor. It is often chewed as a chewing gum, and is said to 

 have purgative and vulnerary properties. It is applied in Mexico in the form 

 of an emulsion to the eyes to hinder the development of cataracts, and is 

 used for genito-urinary and venereal diseases. The leaves are chewed to 

 harden the gums and to heal ulcers of the mouth. The fruit has been used by 

 European physicians as a substitute for cubeb in the treatment of gonorrhoea, 

 and a syrup prepared with it is used in Mexico for bronchitis.^ The tree is 

 figured and described by Hernandez." 



8. ASTRONIUM .Tacq. Enum. PI. Carib. 10. 1760. 

 1. Astronium conzattii Blake, Contr. Gray Herb. n. ser. 53: 59. 1918. 



Astronium zongolica Reko, El Mexico Antiguo 1: 157. 1918. 



Known only from the type locality, Cafetal Concordia, Pochutla, Oaxaca, 

 altitude 600 meters. 



Leaves alternate, pinnate ; leaflets 9 or 11, ovate, 3.5 to 5.3 cm. long, 1.5 to 

 2.5 cm. wide, acuminate, obscurely serrulate, pilosulous beneath ; flowers 

 dioecious, paniculate, the panicles glabrous, 1 cm. long; sepals 5; petals 5, yel- 

 low, 2.5 mm. long. "Zongolica," " sangolica " ; " yaga-biche " (Zapotec). 



9. COMOCLADIA L. Syst. Nat. ed. 10. 861. 1750. 



Trees or shrubs ; leaves pinnate, the leaflets entire or irregularly dentate ; 

 flowers small, perfect or polygamous, in large axillary panicles ; calyx usually 

 3 or 4-parted ; petals 3 or 4, deltoid-ovate, imbricate, spreading ; stamens 3 or 4 ; 

 fruit drupaceous, the endocarp membranaceous. 



The juice of all the species is extremely poisonous, causing swelling of the 

 parts affected and blisters upon the skin. That of some species has been used 

 in the AVest Indies to cure ringworm and destroy warts, but its use is danger- 

 ous. The species of Santo Domingo and their properties are described by 

 Oviedo (Lib. IX, Cap. XXXIII), under the name " guao." " The Indian women 



^ See M. G. Jimgnez, EI arbol del Perfl, Naturaleza 2: 217. 

 * Thesaurus 54-55. 1651. 



