248 SYSTEMATIC BOTANY. 



of some species of OmphaloUwn are edible. The Zebra-wood, used in 

 cabinet-making, is stated by Schomburgk to be the produce of a Guiana 

 species of this genus, O. Lamberli, of great size. 



BURSERACE^E. The Balsam Order consists of trees or shrubs 

 abounding in balsam or resin, with alternate or opposite compound leaves, 

 sometimes stipulate and dotted ; flowers perfect, or sometimes diclinous 

 by abortion ; calyx persistent, with 25 divisions ; petals and stamens 

 perigynous, outside a perigynous disk ; ovary 1-5-celled, superior, sessile 

 in or upon the disk ; ovules in pairs ; micropyle superior ; raphe ventral ; 

 fruit dry, 1-5-celled, often splitting into valves ; seeds aperispermic ; 

 cotyledons plicate, rarely flat. Illustrative Genera : Boswellia, Roxb. ; 

 Balsamodendron, Kunth 5 Canarium, L. ; Amyris, L. 



Affinities, &c. The Burseracese (or, as they are sometimes called, Amy- 

 ridaceae), excepting the genus Amyris itself, have a many-celled fruit, 

 which forms a link between Anacardiaceae and Aurantiaceas ; but the shell 

 of the fruit is hard here, and opens by valves. Amyris has dotted leaves. 

 The ovules in pairs separate them from Anacardiaceee. The want of 

 scales to the stamens separates them from Simarubeae. From Rutals they 

 differ in their aperispermic embryo. From Aurantiads they differ in 

 the fruit. 



Distribution. The Order consists of about 150 species, distributed 

 throughout the tropics of Asia, Africa, and America. 



Qualities and Uses. Fragrant resinous j uices are the chief character- 

 istics of this Order. Boswettia thurifera,Jloribunda, and glabra yield the 

 East-Indian Olibanum or Frankincense ; B. papyrifcra (Abyssinia) yields 

 a similar Olibanum, and has a remarkable inner bark, capable of separa- 

 tion into sheets, which are used as paper. Balsamodendron Myrrha yields 

 Gum Myrrh ; Balm of Mecca is produced by B. Opobalsamum and B. 

 f/ifeadense. B. Mnkul yields Googal, or Bdellium ; B. piibescens another 

 balsam, almost soluble in water. Amyris hexandra and A. Plumieri yield 

 Elemi ; the wood of A. balsamifera is known as Lignum Rhodium ; the 

 balsam of A. toxifera is poisonous. Idea Icicariba yields Brazilian Elemi, 

 I. Carana American Balm of Gilead ; and other species afford similar pro- 

 ducts. Elaphrium iomentosum supplies one of the kinds of Tacamahaca, 

 E. elcmiferum Mexican Elemi ; and Canarimn commune furnishes East- 

 Indian or Manilla Elemi. Bursera paniculata (Mauritius) is called 

 Bois de Colophane, giA T ing out freely when wounded an oily juice smelling 

 like turpentine ; B. yummifera yields Chibou resin, B. acuminata Resin 

 of Oarana ; Hefhuigia balsdmifera, Beaume a cochon, used as a substitute 

 for Copaiba. The wood of Idea altissima is used for canoes in British 

 Guiana, under the name of Cedar-wood. 



LEGUMINOS^. THE PULSE ORDER. 

 Series Calyciflorae ; Coh. Resales, Benth. et Hook. 



Diagnosis. Herbs, shrubs, or trees, with irregular, often papilio- 

 naceous or regular flowers ; stamens 10 or rarely 5, or sometimes 

 indefinite, diadelphous, monadelphous, or distinct ; pistil simple, 



