414 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE NATURAL ORDERS. 



808. Papilionacea; are found in every part of the world : Cresal- 

 pinea? and Mimosea? are confined to the tropical and warmer tem- 

 perate regions. — A full account of the useful plants and products 

 of this large order would require a separate volume. Many, such 

 as Clover, Lucerne (Medicago sativa), &c, are extensively culti- 

 vated for fodder ; Peas and Beans, for puke. The roots of the 

 Licorice (Glycirrhiza glabra of Southern Europe) abound in a 

 sweet mucilaginous juice, from which the pectoral extract of this 

 name is prepared. The sweet pulp of the pods of Ceratonia Siliqua 

 (Carob-tree of the South of Europe, &c), like that of the Honey- 

 Locust (Gleditschia), &c, is edible. The laxative pulp of Cathar- 

 tocarpus Fistula, and of the Tamarind, is well known ; the latter is 

 acidulated with malic, and a little tartaric and citric acid. — A pecu- 

 liar volatile principle (called Coumarin) gives its vanilla-like fra- 

 grance to the well-known Tonka-bean, and to the Melilotus, or Sweet 

 Clover. The flowers and seeds of the latter and of Trigonella 

 crcrulea give the peculiar odor to Scheipzeiger cheese. — Astringents 

 and tonics are also yielded by this order : such as the African Ptero- 

 carpus erinaceus, the hardened red juice of which is Gum Kino ; 

 that of P. Draco, of Carthagena, &c, is Dragons Blood. The bark 

 of most Acacias and Mimosas contains a veiy large quantity of tan- 

 nin, and is likely to prove of great importance in tanning. The 

 valuable astringent called Catechu is obtained by boiling and evap- 

 orating the heart-wood of the Indian Acacia Catechu. — Legumi- 

 nosre yield the most important coloring matters : such as the Brazil- 

 wood, the Logwood of Campeachy (the peculiar coloring principle 

 of which is called Hcematin), and the Red Sandal-wood of Ceylon. 

 Indigo is prepared from the fermented juice of the Indigofera tinc- 

 toria (a native of India), and other species of the genus. ■ This 

 substance is highly azotized, and is a violent poison. — To the same 

 order we arc indebted for valuable resins and baLams ; such as the 

 Mexican Copal, Balsam of Copaiva of the West Indies, Para, and 

 Brazil, the bitter and fragrant Balsam of Peru, and the sweet, fra- 

 grant, and stimulant Balsam of Tolu. — It al.-o furnishes the mo4 

 useful gums ; of which we need only mention Gum Tragacanth, 

 derived from Astragalus verus of Persia, &c. ; and Gum Arabic, 

 the produce of certain African species of Acacia. The best is 

 said to be obtained from Acacia vera, while Gum Senegal is yielded 

 by A. Verek, and some other species. Algarobia dulcis, the Mes- 

 quite of Texas and Mexico, yields a similar gum. The Senna of 



