1J. < 



XANTHOXYLACE.*. 



XYLITF, 



or twin, pendulous, usually smooth and shining with a testa- 

 ceous integument ; the embryo lies iu the midst of a fleshy albumen, 

 radicle superior, and the cotyledons orate or flat The species of 

 plants belonging to this order are trees or shrubs, with exstipulate, 

 alternate, or opposite leaves furnished with pellucid dots. The flowers 

 are either axillary or terminal, and coloured gray, green, or pink. 



1 1 1 



Xatttkttrylum pterola. 



1, branch with lesTtf, Howen, and frait ; 1, floweri Mparuted j 3, male 

 flower ; 4, tUlkrd eapralri ; 6, froulc flower ; C, lection of seed. 



The plants iu this orJer were included originally by Juxsieu in his 

 Tertbintacnr. They were first separated by Hartius and Nees under 

 the order Xantlioiy'rir, which was subsequently adopted by Adrieu 

 <le Justieu. 



The species of Xanlkorylaeett arc found chiefly iu America, espe- 

 cially in the tropical parts. A few of the species are found in Africa, 

 in M auritius and Madagascar, in ludia and China. Oue ouly i a native 

 of Australia. 



All this order, to a greater or Iras extent, possess aromatic and 

 pungent propertica. The species which are best known and used on 

 account of these properties belong to the genera Xtmlhoxylttm, Bruoa, 

 ftflea, Toddalia, and Ailaxllitu. [Bnui-E* ; TOODALIA.] 



Xanikojylum /nui'nnm is a tree attaining a height of 14 or 15 feet, 

 and is an inhabitant of North America from Canada to Virginia. Tin: 

 bark of this tree and its ctpiular fruit hare a hot acrid taite, and nre 

 much used as a remedy for the toothache : it is on thi* account called 

 Toothache-Tree, and this name is now applied to all the species of 

 XanHoxftum. A tincture of the bark is recommended as a remedy in 

 rheumatism. 



A', kyrmale is a native of Brazil, where it is called Coentrilho, and 

 the natives make use of a powder of the bark for the earache. The 

 wood is slso good and useful for many purposes. 



X. B<ulr**ija is a native of the East Indies, in Silbet, and is called 

 Budning ; and the natives use the seeds, which have a warm spicy 

 flavour, medicinally. The fruit i* about the size of a pea, and the 

 outer coat contains an exceedingly fragrant balsam. 



X. KAelta is a native of the mountainous parts of the coast of the 

 East Indira, and in the Telinga language is called Rhetsa-Maun, which 

 means Council-Tree, as it is under the branches of this tree that the 

 hill people assemble to discuss all matters of public interest 



A", rmarymutum is a native of Cuba and Jamaica. It is a tree about 

 20 feet in height, with the branches inclining to the ground. On 

 burning the wood of this tree the smoke is exceedingly odoriferous, 

 and is supposed to have been the origin of the fine scent which 

 Columbus perceived before discovei ing the island of Cuba. 



The capsules and seeds of A', hoitile, called Tej-bul by the natives, 

 are used in India for intoxicating fish, and are supposed to be the 

 Kaghureli of Avicenna. In Japan the capsules of A*, piprritum are 

 used as a substitute for pepper. The fruits of many of the species are 

 also held to be antidotes to the action of poisons on the system, and 

 there can be little doubt that the secretions of these plant* would be 

 found valuable stimulant remedies in many disease*. 



The Pirlta tri/oliata is a native of North America, and the young 

 green shoots are used in infusion as an antbelmiutic. 



The species of Ailanlhiu are large trees, and their timber is used 

 for various purposes in the countries in which they grow. A. glanilu- 

 lota is a native of China and the Molucca*, where it is called Ailonto. 

 It attains a height of 60 feet \Vh> n the bark is wounded it gives 

 out a resiuou* juice, which hardens in a few Hays. The wood is hard 

 and heavy, and is susceptible of a rery fine polUh. It grows well in 

 England. A. Malabarica is a large tree, a native of Malabar. The 

 wood is used for making sheaths for pi-ars, tc. A resinous juice 

 flows from the bark when wounded. Tho fruit U triturated with 

 maize and mixed with rice in decoction, and used as au application in 

 ophthalmia. 



XANTHO'XYLUM. [XANTHOXYLACKJL] 



XANTHUS. [PsEUDOCABcrNcs,] 



XEMA. [LAIUD.B.] 



XENOPELT1S, Uvinwanlt's name for a genus of Serpents which 

 have two great triangular and imbricated plates behind the eyes, BO 

 that they are confounded with the scales which succeed them, and 

 which above become smaller. The form belongs to the great group of 

 Coluber. 



XKN'OPS, Illiger, a genus of Birds, placed by Mr. Swaioson in his 

 family Certhiailce, as the last genus of his sub-family I'rrlkiamr. 



X. yrnibarliu may be regarded as an example. It is a native of 

 Brazil. 



Mr. Swainson remarks that this extraordinary and not inelegant 

 little creature has a bill totally different from that of any other bird. 

 IU general habit, ha states, evinces n close connection with the Sinn, 

 particularly those of Australia, some of which have their bills (which 

 are slender) slightly inclining upwards, thus forming a connection 

 between Xcnopa and the Straight-Billed Sillct of the Old World. 



Xtntft ffiiibarbii. (SalnM>n.) 



XENOTINE, a Mineral occuring crystallised. Primary form a 

 right square prism. Cleavage lateral, perfect Colour yellowish- 

 brown ; streak pale brown. Fracture uneven and splintery. Hard- 

 ness 4-25 to 5-0. Lustre resinous. Opaque. It is found at Lindennaes, 

 in Norway. Its analysis by Berzelius, gives- 



Phosphoric Acid ...... 33-49 



Yttria ......... 62-58 



Subphosphato of Iron ..... 8-93 



- 100 



XIPHIAS. [SCOMBRID*.] 



XIPHOSO'MA, Kitziuger's name for a genus of Serpents. [BOID.K.] 

 XIPHOSUKA. [LiMOLUS-l 



XIPHOSURU3. [lOCANIDA] 



XII'OTHKCA, a genus of Fishes belonging to the family Tteinoitlei. 



XULIONOSPKIONI'TES, a Fossil Fruit 

 XYLITE. [IRON.] 



