548 FABACEiE. [Perigynous Exogens. 



and Red Sandal-wood belong to Pterocarpus Draco and Santalinus, Gum Lae to Eiy- 

 thrina monosperma. The Dalbergia monetaria of Linnaeus yields a resin very similar 

 to Dragon's-blood. A similar juice is yielded by Butea frondosa and superba, harden- 

 ing upon their branches into beautiful ruby-coloured astringent masses, called Gum 

 Butea, and used by the natives of North-western India for precipitating their Indigo, and 

 in tannin"- ; English tanners, however, object to its use on account of the colour which 

 it communicates to leather. Euchresta Horsfieldia is regarded by the Javanese as a 

 specific against the poison of venomous animals, or even such as is taken into the 

 stomach ; it is supposed to act as an emetic, in large doses. — Horsfield. The pods are 

 sold, according to Leschenault, for 5 or even as much as 1 sous French money each. 

 The seed of Psoralea corylifolia is considered by the native practitioners of India 

 stomachic and deobstruent. A strong infusion of the root of Mucuna pruriens, 

 sweetened with honey, is used by the native practitioners of India in cases of cholera 

 morbus. A decoction of the bitter root of Tephrosia purpurea is prescribed by the 

 Indian doctors against dyspepsia, lientery, and tympanitis. The powdered leaf of 

 Indigofera Anil is used in hepatitis. The leaves of the Phaseolus trilobus (called Sem, 

 or Simbi) are considered by the Indian practitioners cooling, sedative, antibilious, and 

 tonic, and useful as an application to weak eyes. The roots and herbage of Baptisia 

 tinctoria have been found to possess antiseptic and sub-astringent properties. They 

 have also a cathartic and emetic effect. This emetic quality is also possessed by others. 

 The root of Clitoria Ternatea is so, and similar properties will be found to exist among 

 the tribe Mimoseae. 



Others are diuretics, as the roots of Beans, Genistas, Ononis, and Anthyllis Her- 

 manniae. 



A few produce gum ; Tragacanth is yielded by Astragalus verus and similar spiny 

 species ; A. creticus (iroTrjpioe, Diosc.) and A. aristatus (rpayaKavda, Diosc.) furnish it in 

 Greece, A. gummii'eron Mount Lebanon and in Koordistan, and A. strobiliferus in the 

 latter country.— Bot. Reg. 1840, Misc. p. 38. 



Among dyes are Indigo, produced from various species of Indigofera, especially 

 tinctoria and caerulea, which last is particularly extolled by Roxburgh for its excellence. 

 In Nubia, Tephrosia Apollinea furnishes it, and in the countries bordering on the Niger 

 T. toxiearia or some allied species. — Gard. Chron. 1842, p. 640. The flowers of 

 Butea frondosa and superba discharge a beautiful yellow or orange dye, Styphnolobium 

 (Sophora) japonicum yields the same colour from the austere pulp of its pods. 

 Baptisia tinctoria produces Indigo of indifferent quality. Genista tinctoria affords a 

 good yellow colour, and with woad a good green. Ray says the milk of cows feeding 

 upon it is rendered bitter, which flavour is communicated to butter and cheese. 



Several produce excellent timber. The Robinia Pseudacacia or Locust tree is hard 

 and durable ; Laburnum wood is light olive green, beautifully grained. The fragrant 

 Rosewood, or Bois de Palixandre, of the cabinet-makers, has been ascertained to belong 

 to 2 or 3 species of Brazilian Trioptolomeas, and not to a Physocalymma, or Mimosa, 

 as has been reported. Pterocarpus dalbergiodes, and several species of Dalbergia, 

 especially D. Sissoo, are remarkable in India for the excellence of their wood. The 

 Itaka wood of Guiana, remarkable for its black and brown streaks, on which account 

 it is employed in cabinet work, is produced by Machaerium Schomburgkii. 



In a very large number of species narcotic properties have been recognised. The 

 seeds of Lathyrus Aphaca have been already mentioned. Those of Abrus precatorius, 

 whose scarlet seeds, with a black scar, are commonly used as beads, Anagyris foetida, 

 and others, have a similar property. This, however, is positively denied, in the case of 

 Abrus, by Dr. Maefadgen, who asserts them to be harmless, and merely indigestible. 

 The leaves of Arthrolobium scorpioides are capable of being employed as vesicatories. 

 The juice of Coronilla varia is poisonous. The roots of Phaseolus radiatus are narcotic, 

 and so are those of P. multiflorus, the Scarlet Running Kidney-bean, which is recorded 

 to have poisoned some children at Chelsea, who had partaken of them. Both the 

 Laburnums (Cytisus alpinus and Laburnum) have caused serious accidents to children 

 who have swallowed their venomous seeds : and C. Weldeni is reported to poison the 

 milk of the Dalmatian goats that browse upon its foliage. The dye called Indigo is a 

 formidable vegetable poison. Schomburgk states that the violet blossoms of Sabinea 

 florida are dangerous. The seeds of Ervum Ervilia, the Bitter Vetch, mixed with flour 

 and made into bread, produce weakness of the extremities, especially of the limbs, and 

 render horses almost paralytic. Andira inermis and retusa, and some Geoffrceas, 

 especially G. vermifuga and spinulosa, have an anthelmintic bark, with a disagreeable 

 smell and a sweet mucilaginous taste ; the effects are drastic, emetic, purgative, and 

 narcotic ; poisonous in large doses, producing violent vomiting with fever and delirium. 

 A few years since, hundreds of sheep perished in the Swan River Colony, in consequence 

 of their cropping the leaves of some plant wild there ; according to an official report, it 



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