348 BOTANY AND PHARMACOGNOSY. 



Jambosa vulgaris which is extensively cultivated in the Tropics. 

 The lemon-like fruit of Myrcia coriacca is used in medicine, the 

 bark in tanning, and the wood in dyeing. The fibrous bark of 

 Eugenia ligustrina is used like oakum. 



h. FAMILY COMBRETACE^. The members of this fam- 

 ily are shrubs or trees, sometimes climbing, with usually alternate, 

 petiolate, simple leaves ; sessile flowers in racemes ; somewhat 

 fleshy, winged, i-seeded fruits, and are mostly found in the 

 Tropics. 



Like the Fagacese the plants of this family contain a tannin, 

 similar to gallotannic acid, in nearly all parts of the plant. The 

 Myrobalans of the East Indies are the young fruits of Tcruii- 

 nalia Cliebiila. The pericarp contains from 5 to 45 per cent, of 

 tannin, the latter amount being found in the fruits known as Long 

 or Chebula Myrobalans. The fruits also contain ellagic and 

 chebulinic acids. The fruits of Terininalia helerica constitute the 

 Beleric Myrobalans. The galls of Terininalia maeroptcra of 

 Africa and other species of Terminalia as v/ell as of Bucida 

 Bneeras of tropical America are particularly rich in tannin. A 

 yellow coloring principle is found in Terminalia Brozvnii of 

 Africa and is used in dyeing leather. The bark of T. Catappa of 

 Asia and Africa is used to dye leather black. 



A gum-jesin with cathartic properties is obtained from Terini- 

 nalia fagifolia of Brazil. An aromatic resin is found in Tenninalia 

 angiistifoliuiii of the East Indies. The fruits of one or more of 

 the Combretaceas are said to be used in the preparation of the 

 arrow-poison of the Negritos. The seeds of Tenninalia Catappa 

 and Conibretnm bntyrosuni contain about 50 per cent, of fixed oil. 

 These seeds as well as those of other species of Terminalia and 

 Quisqualis indiea of Farther India and tropical Africa are edible. 

 The seeds of the latter plant when unripe are said to be used like 

 mustard. The woods of a number of the plants of the Combre- 

 tacese are valuable for building purposes, and some of the genera 

 furnish ornamental plants which are cultivated in greenhouses. 



i. FAMILY MELASTOMACE^. This is a large family 

 of herbs, shrubs and trees with opposite, 3- to 9-nerved leaves 

 and regular, perfect, often showy flowers. They are chiefly found 

 in South America and are represented in temperate regions by 



