762 CINCHONACE.E. [Epigynous Exogens. 



to a bifid thread-shaped torus, very much as in Umbellifers themselves. Loganiads 

 (p. 602) may be regarded as Cinchonads with a free ovary. There is nothing to dis- 

 tinguish this Order from the Caprifoils except the stipules, and even this mark occa- 

 sionally fails us. For example, in Symphoria racemosa the strong shoots are occasionally 

 furnished with interpetiolar stipules, and of large size ; an instance of which is now 

 before mo. Some of the genera have the peculiarity of forming one of the sepals in the 

 thin, large, and gaily-coloured condition of a petal, as occurs in the genera Musssenda 

 and Calycophyllum. Sir R. Schomburgk states that in a very fine species of the latter 

 genus, found by him in British Guayana, the growth of this petaline sepal is very rapid, 

 expanding to its natural size in the course of a couple of days, and only forming itself 

 after t ic flower (corolla) has dropped off. — Lond. Journ. Bot. 3. 623. 



CiiK lionads are almost exclusively found in the hotter parts of the world, especially 

 within the tropics, where they are said to constitute about l-29th of the whole number 

 of flowering plants. In America the most northern species is Pinckneya pubens, 

 a shrub inhabiting the southern states of North America ; some Coprosmas also 

 occupy very low southern latitudes ; the most southern is Nerteria depressa, a small 

 herb found in the Straits of Magellan. The Order is represented in northern regions 

 by Stellates. 



This Order is not only one of the largest of which we have knowledge, but also 

 contains a very considerable number of important species, largely employed for the use 

 of man in the countries they inhabit. Many are among the most valuable of all 

 remedial agents, acting as tonics, febrifuges, emetics, or purgatives. Others, on the 

 contrary, having their secretions in a state of great concentration, prove to be formidable 

 poisons ; nevertheless, a few produce eatable fruit, and one is celebrated over all others 

 for its agreeable stimulating seeds. Dyeing qualities are also observed in a small 

 number. The reader who desires to occupy himself with the detailed study of the uses 

 of this extensive Order will consult Geiger's Hand-buck, Dierbach's Arzneikr'dfte, 

 Endlicher's Enchiridion, the Flora Medico,, and the works on Materia Medica by the 

 two Martiuses, Fee, Guibourt, Pereira, Nees v. Esenbeck, Ebermaier, &c. A few of the 

 principal examples are .ill that need be mentioned in this place. 



Foremost among febrifuges and tonics stand the various Peruvian species of Cinchona, 

 of which C. micrantha and Condaminea are the best. To these succeed the Remijas of 

 Brazil, which are in that country species of great importance. Buena hexandra bark 

 is an indifferent febrifuge, known in Brazil under the name of China. The bark of 

 French Guiana, possessing properties analogous to those of Cinchona, is obtained from 

 Portlandia hexandra, the Coutarea speciosa of Aublet. The Quinquina Piton and 

 Quinquina des Antilles are produced by species of the genus Exostema, and are 

 remarkable for possessing properties similar to those of true Quinquina, but without 

 any trace of either cinchonine or quinine. A kind of fever bark is obtained at Sierra 

 Leone from Rondeletia febrifuga. Besides these, a great number of other species 

 possess barks more or less valuable : Pinckneya pubens is the fever bark of Carolina ; 

 Condaminea corymbosa, Guettarda coccinea, Antirhea, and Morinda Royoc, are all of 

 the same description. Of Hymenodictyon excelsum, an East Indian shrub, the inner 

 bark possesses the bitterness and astringency of Peruvian bark, and when fresh in a 

 stronger degree. The bitterness is not so quickly communicated to the taste, on 

 chewing the bark, but is much more durable, especially about the upper part of the 

 fauces. Ophiorhiza Mungos is so intensely bitter that the plant is called by the Malays 

 Earth-gall ; according to Ksempfer, the taste resembles Gentian, but is more pene- 

 trating. The root and bark of Guettarda Angelica are aromatic and acrid, and are 

 used as febrifuges and astringents in the veterinary pi-actice of Brazil. 



As simple astringents the most remarkable is the Uncaria Gambir. An extract 

 called Gambier is prepared by the Malays from the leaves of this shrub ; with some 

 sweetness, it has a more astringent taste than Terra Japoniea. Roxburgh considered 

 it one of the drugs, if not the only one, formerly called by that name in Europe. Tho 

 extract is chewed by the natives with Betel-leaf and Areea ; the leaves are chewed to 

 relieve aphthous eruptions of the mouth and fauces. Mr. Pereira considers this 

 Gambier not to form any of the Kinos of the shops, but to be one of the substances 

 called Catechu in commerce. The root and bark of Antirhsea verticillata are said to be 

 powerfully astringent. In Bourbon it is employed as a styptic to restrain haemor- 

 rhage, and is known by the name of Bois de Losteau. A decoction of the leaves as 

 well as root of Canthium parviflorum is prescribed in India in certain stages of flux, 

 and the last is supposed to have anthelmintic qualities, though neither have much sen- 

 sible taste or smell. The bark and young shoots are also used in dysentery. 



Among the purgatives or emetics, Ipecacuanha holds the first rank ; it is the root of 

 Ceph'aelis Ipecacuanha, a little creeping-rooted, half-herbaceous plant, found in damp 

 shady forests in Brazil. It is also sudorific and expectorant. Its powder acts upon the 



