SAPINDALES 607 



species, notably in the seeds of the Brazilian Magonia. Narcotic principles oc- 

 cur in the following genera : Serjania, Nephelium, Magonia and Harpullia. 

 The fruit of the litchi (Nephelium Lit-chi), a native of China and the Philip- 

 pines and cultivated in the tropics, is something like a plum and is eaten fresh 

 or dried. The Blighia sapida of West Africa is cultivated for its edible arillus; 

 the Koelreuteria paniculata of China is cultivated as an ornamental plant. 



The family Coriaceae contains the genus Coriaria. The leaves and bark of 

 the C. myrtifolia of southern Europe contain much tannin which is used in 

 dyeing. The C. ntscifolia of New Zealand contains a black dye. The fresh 

 leaves are used in making an intoxicating drink. C. myrtifolia and C. thymi- 

 folia of Mexico contain a toxic principle known as coriamyrtin which resembles 

 picrotoxin. Many species of the genus are poisonous. Coriaria sarmentosa, C. 

 arborea, and the tree-toot (C. Tutu} of New Zealand are poisonous. Easterfield 

 & Ashton* have isolated a crystallin glucoside called tutin C ]7 H 20 O 7 which ap- 

 pears to be closely allied to coriamyrtin C 15 H 18 O_. Tutu plants are highly 

 toxic to animals that have not become immune by first becoming accustomed to 



small quantities. Blyth says : 



For the native cattle in the Tutu districts apparently consume moderate amounts of the 

 shrubs with impunity, whereas other cattle become seriously ill. Both coriamyrtin and tutin 

 belong pharmacologically to the picrotoxin group of substances. Tutin is somewhat less toxic 

 that coriamyrtin. There is first depression, followed by salivation; the pulse is slowed, the 

 respirations increased in frequency, and finally, clonic convulsions occur: 129 mgrms. killed a 

 kitten weighing 1 kilogramme in 40 minutes; 1 mgrm. induced in a cat, 2 kilogrms. in weight, 

 a convulsive seizure, and the animal did not recover for 24 hours. 



Other important families of this order will be described farther on. 



Families of Sapindales 

 Flowers regular. 



Ovary 1-celled; fruit a drupe Anacardiaceae. 



Ovary 2 or more celled. 

 Leaves simple. 



Seed with an aril Celastraceae. 



Seed without an aril Aquifoliaceae, 



Leaves simple, palmately veined or compound. 



Leaves opposite Aceraceae. 



Flowers irregular. 



Leaves palmately compound; fruit a leathery capsule. 



Trees or shrubs Hippocastanaceae. 



Succulent herbs; capsule elastically dehiscent Balsaminaceae. 



ANACARDIACEAE. Cashew Family 



Trees or shrubs with acrid properties, milky or resinous juice; alternate 

 or opposite leaves; flowers small, frequently polygamous, regular; calyx 3-7- 

 cleft; petals of the same number; stamens as many or twice as many as the 

 petals, inserted at the base of the disk; ovary 1 or sometimes 4 or 5-celled, and 

 1 ovule in each cavity; styles 1-3; fruit generally a small drupe; endosperm 

 scanty; cotyledons large. 



There are about 500 species in temperate and tropical regions. The cashew 

 (Anacardium occidentale) is much cultivated in the tropics. According to 

 Dr. Cook, the fleshy receptacles of the fruit are used in the West Indies in 



* Jour. Chem. Soc. Trans. 1901. 



