THE POLYPETALOUS ORDERS. 411 



Logwood of Campeachy (the peculiar coloring principle of which 

 is called Hamatin), and the Red Sandal-wood of Ceylon. Most 

 important of all is Indigo, which is prepared from the fermented 

 juice of the Indigofera tinctoria (a native of India), and also from 

 I. cserulea, and other species of the genus. This substance is 

 highly azotized, and is a violent poison. Te the same order we 

 are indebted for valuable resins and balsams ; such as the Mexican 

 Copal, Balsam of Copaiva of the West Indies, Para, and Brazil, 

 the bitter and fragrant Balsam of Peru, and the sweet, fragrant, 

 and stimulant Balsam of Tolu. It also furnishes the most useful 

 gums ; of which we need only mention Gum Tragacanth, derived 

 from Astragalus verus of Persia, &c. ; and Gum Arabic, the prod- 

 uce of numerous African species of Acacia. The best is said to 

 be obtained from Acacia vera, which extends from Senegal to 

 Egypt ; while Gum Senegal is yielded by A. Verek, and some other 

 species of the River Gambia. The Senna of commerce consists of 

 the leaves of several species of Cassia, of Egypt and Arabia. C. 

 Marilandica of this country is a succedaneum for the officinal ar- 

 ticle. More acrid, or even poisonous properties, are often met 

 with in the order. The roots of Baptisia tinctoria (called Wild In- 

 digo, because it is said to yield a little of that substance), of the 

 Broom, and of the Dyers' Weed (Genista tinctoria, used for dying 

 yellow), possess such qualities ; while the seeds of Laburnum, &c., 

 are even narcotico-acrid poisons. The branches and leaves of 

 Tephrosia, and the bark of the root of Piscidia Erythrina (Jamaica 

 Dogwood, which is also found in Southern Florida), are commonly 

 used in the West Indies for stupefying fish. Cowitch is the sting- 

 ing hairs of the pods of Mucuna pruriens of the West, arid M. pru- 

 rita of the East, Indies. Among the numerous valuable timber- 

 trees, our own Locust (Robinia Pseudacacia) must be mentioned ; 

 and also the Rose-wood of commerce, the produce of a Brazilian 

 species of Mimosa. Few orders furnish so many plants cultivated 

 for ornament. 



773. Ord, Rosaceac (the Pose Family). Trees, shrubs, or herbs, 

 with alternate leaves, usually furnished with stipules. Flowers 

 regular. Calyx of five (rarely three or four) more or less united 

 sepals, and often with as many bracts. Petals as many as the se- 

 pals (rarely none), mostly imbricated in aestivation, inserted on the 

 edge of a thin disk that lines the tube of the calyx. Stamens peri- 

 gynous, indefinite, or sometimes few, distinct. Ovaries with soli- 



