622 A TEXT-BOOK OF BOTANY. 



America and also in Polynesia and Madagascar. The seeds are 

 covered with a fleshy arillus from which the coloring matter is 

 prepared by means of water. The insoluble matter is collected, 

 made into cakes and chiefly used for dyeing and coloring. Annatto 

 contains a red crystalline principle, bixin, a yellow coloring prin- 

 ciple, orellin, and an ethereal oil. The root of this plant also con- 

 tains some coloring matter. A yellow coloring principle is found in 

 Cochlospernnim tinctorium of Senegambia and an aromatic resin is 

 obtained from Cochlospcrmum Gossypiuni of Ceylon and Malabar. 



1. FAMILY CANELLACE/E OR WINTERANACE.E. — 

 These are trees with aromatic barks having an odor of cinnamon ; 

 pellucid-punctate leaves ; and golden-yellow flowers. The most 

 important member of this family is JVintcrania Canclla growing in 

 the Antilles and in Southern Florida, which furnishes the Canella 

 BARK or False Winter's bark used in medicine. The bark occurs 

 in large quills or broken pieces, from 3 to 10 mm. thick, with the 

 periderm nearly entirely removed, the outer surface yellowish or 

 orange-red with transversely elongated patches of cork and shal- 

 low, whitish depressions ; the fracture is short with numerous resin 

 canals ; the odor aromatic ; taste aromatic, bitter and pungent. It 

 contains mannitol, resin and 0.5 to 1.28' per cent, of a volatile oil 

 containing eugenol, cineol, caryophyllene and pinene. The bark 

 of one or more species of Cinnamodendron of tropical America is 

 sometimes substituted for Canella bark, but it is distinguished by 

 containing tannin, which constituent is not found in Canella. 



y. VIOLACE^ OR VIOLET FAMILY.— The plants are 

 herbs or shrubs with basal or alternate leaves, perfect, irregular 

 flowers, and 3-valved dehiscent capsules (Fig. 280, /). The best 

 known representatives of this group are the cultivated species of 

 the genus Viola, including the English or sweet violet ( Viola odor- 

 ata), which produces a volatile oil containing ionon ; and the varie- 

 ties of Viola tricolor vulgaris which furnish the pansies of the 

 garden. The entire herb of Viola tricolor has been used in medi- 

 cine and contains the yellow coloring principle viola-quercitrin, 

 salicylic acid and methyl salicylate (Figs. 201, 232). 



k. FAMILY FLACOURTIACE/E. — These are tropical 

 shrubs and trees, and are chiefly of interest because of their valu- 

 able woods and acid, juicy fruits. A number of them are of 



