BURSERA. 



BURSERA. 



Flowers polygamous. Calyx small, 3-5-parted, with obtuse 

 lobes. Petals 3-5, spreading, valvate. Stamens 6-8. Annular 

 disk, with about 8 crenatures. Ovary ovate, 3-celled ; style 

 short trifid. Drupe oblong, with 3 stones of which 2 are abor- 

 tive ; a succulent 3-valved rind. American balsamiferous trees, 

 with unequally pinnated or simple leaves. Racemes axillary and 

 terminal. 



338. B. acuminata Willd. sp.pl iv. 1120. DC. prodr.ii. 78. 



Porto Rico and St. Domingo. 



Leaflets oblong, acuminate, acute at the base. Racemes axillary. 

 A yellow concrete essential oil is yielded by this plant, Royle. 



339. B. gummifera Jacq. amer. 94. t. 75. also abounds in a 

 turpentine-like secretion which hardens as it dries. This plant 

 is found in Cuba, St. Domingo, Jamaica and on the adjoining 

 continent, and appears to be not very different from the last. 



BOSWELLIA. 



Flowers bisexual. Calyx small, 5-toothed, persistent. Petals 

 5, obovate-oblong, very patent, acute at the base, inserted under 

 the margin of the disk: aestivation slightly imbricative. Stamens 10, 

 inserted under the disk, alternately shorter : filaments, subulate, 

 persistent : anthers caducous* Torus a cup-shaped disk, fleshy, 

 larger than the calyx, crenulated on the margin. Ovary oblong, 

 sessile. Style 1, the length of the stamens, caducous. Stigma 

 capitate, 3-lobed. Fruit capsular, 3-angled, 3-celled, 3-valved, 

 septicidal : valves hard. Seeds solitary in each cell, surrounded by 

 abroad membranaceouswing. Cotyledons intricately folded, mul- 

 tifid. Trees producing balsam and resin. Leaves deciduous, 

 alternate towards the top of the branches, unequally pinnated : 

 leaflets opposite, serrated. Stipules none. Racemes terminal or 

 axillary. Flowers on short pedicels, white. W. and A. 



340. B. thurifera Colebr. in As. research, ix. 317. and xi. 158. 

 Roxb.fl. ind. ii. 383. W. and A. i. 174. B. serrata S. and C. 

 iii. t. 147. Pereira in med. gaz* xx. 676. Aia;/o< Dioscorid. 



Mountainous parts of Coromandel, Bundulkund, &c. 

 Leaflets oblong, obtuse, serrated, pubescent. Racemes axillary, 



single, shorter than the leaves. W.aud A. Resin is called Olibanum ; 

 chiefly used as an incense in Indian temples, but also stimulant, astrin- 

 gent, and diaphoretic. Prescribed by the native Indian doctors, mixed 

 with clarified butter, in gonorrhoea and bloody flux. 



ICICA. 



Calyx small, obtusely 5-toothed. Petals 5, inserted under the 

 disk, recurved, sessile, valvate. Stamens 10, inserted with 

 171 



