ANACARDIACE.E. 395 



used for food ; Zizyphus Jujuba supplies the fruit called Jujube ; and 

 the Lotus, or Lote-bush of the classics, whence the Lotophagi were 

 named, is Zizyphus Lotus. A kind of Scinde lac is found on Zizyphus 

 Jujuba. Paliurus aculeatus, Christ's-thorn, is common in the hedges 

 of Judasa. Ceanothus Americanus is used in America as an astringent, 

 and its leaves, under the name of New Jersey Tea, have been used 

 as a substitute for Tea. The leaves of Segeretia thecezans are used for 

 the same purpose by the poorer classes in China. 



842. Order 65. Auacardiacete, the Cashew-nut Family. (Polypet. 

 Perigyn.) Flowers usually unisexual. Calyx usually small and per- 

 sistent, with 5, or sometimes 3-4-7 divisions. Petals equal in number 

 to the calycine divisions, perigynous, sometimes ; imbricated in 

 aestivation. Stamens either equal to the petals in number and alter- 

 nate with them, or twice as many or more ; filaments distinct or 

 cohering at the base, usually perigynous. Disk fleshy, annular or 

 cup-shaped, sometimes inconspicuous. Ovary single, rarely 5 or 6, 

 free or adhering to the calyx, 1 -celled ; ovule solitary, attached by a 

 funiculus to the bottom, or along the side of the cell ; styles 1-3, 

 occasionally 4 ; stigmas 1-3 or 4. Fruit usually drupaceous and 

 indehiscent. Seed ascending or frequently pendulous, from the ad- 

 herence of the funiculus to the angle of the cell, exalbuminous ; 

 radicle inferior or superior, sometimes curved suddenly back ; cotyle- 

 dons thick, fleshy, or leafy. Trees or shrubs, with a resinous, often 

 caustic juice, and alternate leaves without dots. The order is a sub- 

 division of the Terebinthacea3 of Jussieu. The plants inhabit chiefly 

 the tropical parts of America, Africa, and India ; some, however, are 

 found in Europe. There are 41 known genera, and 95 species. 

 Examples Anacardium, Rhus, Mangifera, Spondias. 



843. The order is characterized by the presence of an acrid resinous 

 juice. In some cases, however, the fruit of the plant is edible. Many 

 of them supply varnishes. Anacardium occidentale furnishes the 

 Cashew-nut, which is remarkable for its large succulent peduncle sup- 

 porting the fruit or nut (fig. 227). The pericarp has the acrid pro- 

 perties which pervade the order, while the seed is eatable. The 

 fleshy peduncle is acid and edible, and a bland gum exudes from the 

 bark. Pistacia vera is the Pistacia or Pistachio-nut tree, which ex- 

 tends from Syria to Bokhara and Caubul, and is cultivated in the south 

 of Europe. It has green-coloured oily kernels, which are used as 

 articles of diet. P. Terebinthus is a native of the southern part of 

 Europe, and the northern part of Africa, and yields a liquid resinous 

 exudation, known as Chian turpentine. The turpentine receives its 

 name on account of being collected in the island of Chio or Scio, where 

 the plant thrives. The tree attains a height of 30 or 35 feet, and one 

 tree will yield ten ounces of the liquid resinous matter, which thickens 

 on exposure to air, by the loss of volatile oil. Like other turpentines, 



