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I l;i I in;n\\ l. \< I I 







Obdbb CXL ER"\ THROXTi LA* I E I 



I )i LON08IS.— Sapinda l 



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SI i ml is or trees ; young shoots often compressed and covered with aci 

 scales. Leaves alternate, usually smooth ; stipules within thi petioles. 1: 

 whitish or greenish. Peduncles axillary, soli tar} orcl 

 emerging from numerous imbricated scale-like brai - 

 5, combined at tin- base, per istent. Petals 5, hypogynous, 

 broad at the base, with a plaited Bcale there, equal, the 



margins lying u| each other in aestivation. Stamens 10, 



monadelphous ; anthers innati . 2 -celled, dehiscing 



lengthwise. Ovarj 3-celled, with 2 cells spurious; styles 3, 

 distinct, or united almost to the point ; stigmas :'.. capitate ; 

 ovule Bolitary, pendulous, anatropal, not suspended by a cord. 

 Fruit drupaceous, 1 --■• d( L Si i • ! angular ; albumi n bel 

 Beshy : nl mealy, or ; embryo Btraight, central ; cotyledons 

 plano-convi » ; radicle superior, taper, Btraight 



'I'Ik' Erythroxyls are distinguished from Malpighiads by 

 tin ir flowers growing from amongsl small imbricated Bcales, 

 hai ing do glands on the calyx, a pair of parallel membranous 

 plates on tli"' petals, capitate Btigmas, and ovules which are 

 Iruly anatropal, without any cord to connect them with the 

 placentae. These marks are, however, hardly sufficient for 

 tli.' characteristics of a Natural • >rdi r, and it would perhaps 

 be better t" merge the Order in the Malpighiads, ae 

 lean done with Nitraria. An elaborate account of the 

 genus will be found in Martina's Memoir, above quoted. 



Chiefly West Indian and South American \ * are 

 found in tli"- East Indies, Beveral in th"' Mauritius and 

 Madagascar, and one in New Holland. Brazil within the 

 tropics is their favourite haunt. 



The « 1 of some i> bright red : that of E. hypericifolium, 



is the Bob d*huile of the Isle of Prance. A permanent reddish 

 Brown dye is obtained from the bark of Erythroxylum suber- 

 eemn, called in Brazil Gallinha choca and Mercurio docampo 

 K. areolatum, :i shrub found neaa Carthagena, is said t^ have 

 •ome medical value ; its young branches are refrigerant, it- 



Mrk tonic, from the jun f the leaves is prepared an 



oiiitiiniit employed against scald head, and the sul 

 jiiif"- of it- Beshy fruit is purgative and diuretic The bark 

 nt the root of E. anguifugum is regarded as an alexipharmic 

 in Brazil ; that of E. campestre is employed in the same 

 country as a purgative. — Marti 



Erythroxylon Coca is a plant much used bj the mini 

 Pith for its remarkable power in stimulating the nervous 

 system, in which respect it quite resembles opium. Its 

 leaves are chewed with a small mixture of tin. I \ powdered 











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o 







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I fl'LXXVl 



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have been ascribed t"> the immoderate use of opium an 

 consequence of chewing the Coca leaf, v > •• a curious account "t" th - 



in Chil-. 



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Etytl 



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a, Kiimli. 





P0S HON. 



Ni Minus. Gen. 1. S 

 .- Em rRROXi 



CCI.XXVl Ki w. l.afl 



apiUte stigmas : 4. a. hi. •> 







