118 



475. CROTON ELUTERIA, Bennett. 



a. Branchlets, showing the bark in situ. 



I. Bark. 



c. Spurious cascarilla bark. (Crolon Lucidum, L. ?) 

 Note. The barks of other species of croton have sometimes been found 

 mixed with Cascarilla bark in the bales as imported, see P. J. [1] , 

 vol. vii., p. 35. 



Specimen c is distinguished from true Cascarilla by want of its aroma, 

 its astringency, and by the redder tint and striated appearance of the 

 inner surface. See P. J". [3] , vol. iv., p. 810. For Cascarilline, see 

 P. J. [1], vol. v., p. 223. For micr. structure, P. J. [3], vol. iii., 

 p. 664 ; Berg, Anat. Atlas, taf. 37. For fig. of plant, see Bentley and 

 Trimen, Med. Plants, tab. 238. 



476. CEOTON MALAMBO, Krst. 



a. Bark. (Malambo. BarJc, Matias Bark.) 



Note. This bark has an odour like that of Calamus aromaticus. It 

 is said to have been used in America as an adulterant of ground spice. 

 Bee P. J. [1] , vol. iii., p. 169. It is used in Columbia in infusion for 

 diarrhoea and as a vermifuge, and the tincture is used as an external 

 application for rheumatism. P. J. [2] , vol. i., p. 321 ; P. J. [1], vol. 

 vi., p. 255. Bentley' s Man. Bot., p. 625. 



477. CROTON NIVEUS, Jacq. ; CROTON PSEUDO-CHINA, Schlecht. 



a. Bark in quills. (Copalclii bark, Cascarilla.) 

 Note. This is the bark mentioned by Pereira under the name of 

 "Quilled Copalche " in his Mat. Med., vol. ii., pt. i., p. 415. It is 

 figured in Goebel und Kunze, Waar., taf. xxvi., fig. 1-6. The taste is 

 similar to that of Cascarilla, with a slight flavour of mace. It is readily 

 distinguished from other barks by the surface, when denuded of the 

 loose outer layer, presenting the appearance of having been rasped. 

 Under a lens this is seen to be owing to numerous minute oblong pits 

 which cover its surface. See P. J. [1], vol. xiv., p. 319; Pharmaco- 

 graphia, p. 507. It is remarkable for containing an alkaloid which gives 

 a green colour with chlorine and ammonia, but does not give any cha- 

 racteristic compound with iodine. 



This specimen was presented by Mr. J. E. Howard. It was imported 

 from Puntas Arenas, in the gulf of Nicoya, in 1855. Since that date it 

 . has been offered in the London market as Cusparia bark. 



478. CROTON SUBEROSUM, H. et B. ? CROTON PSEUDO-CHINA, Schiede. 



a. Bark, in corky quills. (Chiquiqui Bark.) 

 Note. This bark is the " Corky Copalchi Bark " of Pereira, described 

 in his Mat. Med., vol. ii., pt. i., p. 416. Its taste is very bitter, and it is 

 almost free from aroma. It is distinguished from the last by its very 

 thick corky layer, and by the dark surface when the corky layer is re- 

 moved. This specimen was presented by Dr. Lindley, in April, 1851, as 

 an undoubtedly authentic specimen of chiquiqui bark. It was brought 

 from Guatemala by Mr. G. W. Skinner, and appears to be identical with 

 the bark described in P. J. [1], vol. ix., p. 463, by Dr. J. Stark, who 

 states that it is called " Natri" in Chili. - This bark is not the copalchi 

 bark figured by Goebel, which is that of C. pseudo-China, Schlecht, 

 Croton niveus, Jacq. See note by Howard, P. J. [1], vol. xiv., p. 319. 

 It was also met with in the London market in 1875. 



