122 NATURAL EI8T0B7 OF PLANTS. 



DiUeniacea known is in all about two hundred species. Their uses 

 are but few. Most are rich in tannin, and strike an intense black 

 in contact with iron. This is very marked in Schumacheria, which 

 might be used in dyeing ; it is also found, though in a less degree, 

 in Tetraccra, Davilla, Curatrl/a, &c. Hence it is not strange that 

 Curatdla americana and C. caimhakiha} should be successfully used in 

 tanning hides, and that astringent lotions are made from their bark 

 in Brazil. The decoction of the leaves is used as a topical appli- 

 cation to wounds. Dai-iUa is used for similar purposes ; thus 

 D. ellij)tica, the Caimhaiblnha of the province of Miuas-Novas, serves 

 to prepare a vulnerary of the same name, much prized by the 

 Brazilians." B. riif/om is their Cipo dc Caboclo, or dc Carijo, of which a 

 decoction is made, which cures swelling of the legs, thighs, &c., 

 afl'ectious very common in the warm regions of South America. It 

 is probably also an astringent action that is exerted by Colfjcrtia 

 ohovata Bl. (which is a BUlenid), when the juice is mixed with 

 water and used to wash the head to arrest baldness. Rheede relates 

 that the acidulous juice of the fruit of I), speciom mixed with syrup 

 is a remedy for coughs, Tetracera Rhcedii, infused in rice-water, is 

 much used in Malabar as a gargle for aphthae. A decoction of T. 

 Tiyarea is prescribed in Cayenne, under the name of " Liane Bon^e" 

 (Angl. Red Liana), 2iS an antisyphilitic.^ T. Brn//iiaua and oblongata 

 have the same properties as Davilla rugom, and fumigations of these 

 plants are used in swellings of certain organs. The juice of Tetraccra 

 ahiifoUa serves, it is said, as a beverage in Africa. BiUenia scabrc/Ia 

 and speciom are used for domestic purposes in ^Malabar. The thick- 

 ened calyxes, gorged with an acidulous juice, are preserved, and enter 

 into the preparation of acid beverages and stews, almost like the 

 lemon in Europe. With the ley of the leaves plate is cleaned. The 

 Tetraceras have often rugose leaves ; those of T. sarmentosa are used 

 in the Indo-Chinese Peninsula to polish wood, and tin vessels. 

 Curatella americana possesses this property in a higher degree, owing 

 to the siliceous concretions found abundantly in its leaves.^ The 



' A. S. H., Plus. Us. Jir<t.iil., t. xxiv. — Netto, Caimbahiha is pri'ferablc u a popular name, it 



//, But., 1(5. BCi'ins to ine; for it gives iwrfoctly tlie ickti of 



» A. S. H., /'/. Vs. Brasil., t. xxxiii. tlio incut mniirkiihlo property of this vcpitiiWi". 



» AriiLKT, Gitian., ii. yzl, t. 351. In fact, Caimbahiha iiicniii.i in tlie ulH)riginiil liin- 



< According; to NktT(» {he. vil .) tliJK tree is yinix^u ' Slmj;rifn (or fjlinw jmiijct) Tpih.-,' ' riun- 



callwl Cajueiro bmro in tlit- ciiniiMw of Ni.rtli in^; 'IVco,' ' Prickly Trw," \c., wliidi tallii-a 



Untzil. " Hut," wiyH tliin mitlior, " tlie naun' of wiili tlic' hm' tin- imiivis foruR-rly niailc nml alill 



