628 A TEXT-BOOK OF BOTANY. 



yellow coloring principle is found in several species of Daphne 

 and Thymelcea. The wood of Aquilaria Agallocha of India and 

 China is aromatic and resembles the " Aloe wood." A balsam is 

 obtained from the wood of Pimelea oleosa of Cochin China. The 

 bast fibers of quite a number of plants are used in the making of 

 paper, as of Daphne in India, Gnidia of Madagascar, Lagetta (L. 

 lintearia or Lace-tree) of Jamaica and St. Domingo, Thymelaa 

 of the Mediterranean countries and Linodendron of Cuba. The 

 fibers of Leather wood (Dirca palustris) of the Eastern United 

 States and Canada are said to be used in a similar manner. 



b. FAMILY EL^AGNACE^:. This is a small family 

 represented in the United States by several genera, among which 

 is the Buffalo berry (Lepargyrcra argentea}, a thorny shrub found 

 in the western part of the United States and the Northwest Terri- 

 tory. The fruit is a reddish drupe-like berry which contains a 

 small amount of citric and malic acids, 5 per cent, of sugar, and 

 in composition is much like the currant. It is eaten by the Indians, 

 and used to a great extent in the Western States in the making 

 of jellies. The leaves and flowers of a number of species of 

 Elaeagnus are used in medicine. 



c. LYTHRACE^: OR LOOSESTRIFE FAMILY. The 

 members of this family are herbs, shrubs and trees usually with 

 opposite, entire leaves. The flowers are in racemes and the fruit 

 is a capsule. Quite a number of the plants yield valuable woods 

 and a number are cultivated as ornamental plants. 



The flowers of Woodfordia floribunda of India contain a red 

 coloring principle, and the bark and leaves of Lafocnsia Pacari of 

 Brazil contain a yellow coloring principle. Considerable tannin 

 is found in the root of the Purple loosestrife (Lythrum Salicaria} 

 of the Northern United States and Canada, and widely distrib- 

 uted in the Old World ; and also in the fruit of Woodfordia flori- 

 bunda, a plant which is extensively cultivated in greenhouses. A 

 bitter principle, nessin, is found in the leaves of Nescca syphilitica 

 of Mexico and probably other species of this genus. Cuphea 

 viscosissima of Mexico is said to resemble digitalis in its physiologi- 

 cal action. A vesicating principle, resembling cantharidin in its 

 action, is obtained from the fresh leaves of Ammannia baccifera 

 of India. A narcotic principle is found in the seeds of Lager- 



