74 SILVA OF NORTH AMERICA. BORRAGINACEZ. 
the base of the Sierra Madre, enlivening the dry mesas with its beautiful white flowers, which are 
produced in the greatest profusion and continue to open during several weeks. 
The wood of Cordia Boissieri is light, rather soft, close-grained, with many thin conspicuous 
medullary rays and small scattered open ducts, and is dark brown, with thick light brown sapwood. 
The specific gravity of the absolutely dry wood is 0.6790, a cubic foot weighing 42.32 pounds. 
All parts of Cordia Boissieri, which contains an aromatic principle, are used by the Mexicans in 
the treatment of bronchial affections.' An extract of the wood is believed by them to be valuable as 
an expectorant and diaphoretic ; the fruit is eaten, and in the form of jelly is used to relieve coughs ; 
and a decoction of the leaves is employed in the treatment of rheumatism.” 
Cordia Boissiert was discovered by J. L. Berlandier*® in the valley of the Rio Grande. 
sionally planted in the gardens of western Texas and northern Mexico, it might well find a home in 
those of other warm dry countries, for few trees of temperate regions produce more beautiful or 
Occa- 
abundant flowers.’ 
The specific name commemorates the scientific labors of Edmond Boissier,° the distinguished Swiss 
botanist. 
3 See i. 82. 
4 Two plants of Cordia Boissieri were sent in 1861 by the Han- 
noverian consul at Tampico to the Botanic Garden at Géttingen ; 
in the following year they were alive and in good condition (Re- 
gensb. Flora, xlv. 444). 
5 Pierre-Edmond Boissier (1810-1875), a native of Geneva, a 
1 Havard, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus. viii. 510. 
2 In 1860 Anacahuita wood attracted some attention in Germany 
as a remedy for consumption, and considerable quantities were 
imported from Tampico and sold at high prices, but as an analysis 
did not demonstrate that it possessed important medical properties, 
and no good results following its use in the treatment of phthisis, 
it was soon given up as a remedy. (See Berg, Bonplandia, 1860, 
302. — Buchner, Neues Repertorium fiir Pharmacie, x. 97. — Miller, 
Vierteljahresschrift fiir Prakt. Pharm. x. 519. — Seemann, Pharm. 
Jour. and Tans. iii. 164. — Hanbury, Pharm. Jour. and Trans. ser. 
2, ii. 407 ; iv. 272, t. ; Science Papers, 277, t.) 
traveler in Spain, northern Africa, and Asia Minor, and best known 
by his Voyage botanique dans le midi de Espagne, 1839-1845, and 
by his Flora Orientalis, 1867-1884. Boissiera, a genus of Grasses, 
was established by Hochstetter in his honor. (See A. de Candolle, 
Arch. Sci. Phys. et Nat. de Genéve, xiv. 368.) 
EXPLANATION OF THE PLATES. 
Pirate CCLXXXIII. Corpsza Botssrert. 
. A corolla displayed. 
NOSES. T PR WD 
. A flowering branch, natural size. 
. A flower, the corolla and half of the calyx removed. 
. A stamen, front and rear views. 
. Vertical section of an ovary, enlarged. 
. Cross section of an ovary, enlarged. 
An ovule, much magnified. 
Puate CCLXXXIV. Corp1a Boissrert. 
A seed, natural size. 
Qo PRP w rw = 
. An embryo, enlarged. 
. A fruiting branch, natural size. 
. Vertical section of a fruit, natural size. 
. Cross section of a fruit, natural size. 
. An embryo cut across the cotyledons, enlarged. 
