282 ANACAHUITE WOOD. 



1862. Mexicans Nacahuita, a name sufficiently like Anacahuite to 

 justify a suspicion of identity. This suspicion has been changed 

 into certainty. In a recent number of Flora, occurs the follow- 

 ing interesting notice, which is republished in Bonplandia of 1st 

 November last. 



Botanical In the summer of 1861, the Botanical Gardens of Gottingen 

 ongm. received from Mr. Gresser, the Hanoverian consul at Tarapico, 

 two stems of the Anacahuite-tree, which although in a very un- 

 promising condition upon arrival, yet by suitable treatment soon 

 threw out new shoots. They have now grown into strong 

 shrubs, and last winter produced flower-buds, the full develop- 

 ment of which was, however, prevented by the unfavourable 

 season. Mr. Gresser, at a subsequent period, sent also dried 

 leaves of the Anacahuite, and the fruit preserved in alcohol/which, 

 with the growing specimens, afforded data for determining the 

 plant to be the Cordia Boissieri of Alphonse De Candolle, de- 

 scribed in the 9th volume of the Prodromus, p. 478. 



In the herbarium of Sir William J. Hooker, of Kew, there are 

 good specimens of Cordia Boissieri, from which, with the per- 

 mission of Sir William the woodcut on the preceding page has 

 been made. 



Properties of Touching the properties of the natural order Cordiacece, to 

 Cordiaceae. ^^ (} ora i a belongs, the remarks of Endlicher 1 are to the 

 following effect. The pulp of the drupes is mucilaginous, viscid 

 and astringent with some sweetness ; in a few it is acidulous ; 

 the fleshy cotyledons contain a bland oil. The saccharine fruits 

 of Cordia Myxa, L., a tree indigenous to tropical Asia, and cul- 

 tivated in Egypt from a very remote period, were used by the 

 ancients in coughs and other disorders of the respiratory organs 

 on account of their soothing and laxative properties. In Europe 

 they are now very rarely employed. The West Indian Cordia 

 Sebestena, L., has similar virtues. Of some members of the order 

 the wood and leaves are resinous and aromatic. The brown wood, 

 elegantly veined with black, of Cordia Eumphii, Bl., has the 

 odour of musk. The bark of Cordia Myxa, L., is frequently used in 

 astringent gargles in India, and the root is reputed to be laxative. 

 1 Enchiridion, p. 319. 



