322 BOTANY AND PHARMACOGNOSY. 



sessile ; the flowers are small, dicecious, and in axillary clusters. 

 In the bark of this plant there are large cavities which contain 

 an oleo-resin that is official as Mastic in a number of pharma- 

 copoeias (p. 645). The wood of ScJiiiiopsis Lorentzii and ^. Bal- 

 ans<, growing in Argentine and Paraguay, is known in commerce 

 as Quebracho Colorado. It is red. very hard and contains 

 tannin, gallic and ellagic acids. 



The PiSTACio nuts or Pistacia almonds are obtained from 

 Pistacia vera indigenous to Syria and Mesopotamia and ex- 

 tensively cultivated in the countries bordering llie Mediterranean. 

 The kernels are used extensively in confectionery. The nuts are 

 about 20 mm. long, somewhat quadrangular in cross-section, and 

 the seed consists of two fleshy, green cotyledons. The seeds of 

 Buchania latifolia and other species of Biichania are used in India 

 much like almonds. 



Gums are found in several species of Anacardiiim and Sclcro- 

 carya. Acajou gum is obtained from Anacardiiim occidentale. 

 Considerable sugar and citric acid are found in Mangos, the 

 fruit of Mangifera indica native of Farther India and Ceylon 

 and cultivated in the Tropics. A fruit used like lemons is obtained 

 from Dracontomelnm inangiferuiii of 3.1alacca and the Sunda 

 Islands. 



d. AQUIFOLIACE^ (ILICACE^) OR HOLLY FAM- 

 ILY. The plants are mostly shrubs or trees v/ith alternate, 

 petiolate, simple leaves and small, white, regular flowers. The 

 fruit is a bcrrv-like drupe containing several nutlets. The most 

 important genus of this family is Ilex, a number of species of 

 which are found in the L'nited States. 



The European holly (Ilex Aqiiifoliiiiii) contains a bitter gluco- 

 sidal principle, ilicin, v/hich is found in the bark as well as the 

 drupes. The drupes contain a principle which is a homologue 

 of benzvl alcohol, and a glutinous substance which renders them 

 useful in the manufacture of birdlime. The American holly (/. 

 opaca) growing in the Eastern United States, probably contains 

 similar constituents to the European holly. This is the plant 

 which furnishes the Christmas holly. 



Mate. Paraguay or Brazilian tea, consists of the leaves of 

 Ilex paraguayensis found in Southern Brazil, Argentine and 



