AMYRIDACEJE. 



COPAIFERA. 



Calyx 4-parted; segments diverging, the lowest the nar- 

 rowest. Corolla 0. Stamens 10, declinate. Ovary roundish, 

 compressed, with 2 ovules. Fruit pedicellate, oblique, obovate, 

 rounded, compressed, between woody and leathery, 2-valved, 

 1-seeded. Seed enclosed in a 1-sided aril. Trees or shrubs 

 inhabiting tropical America ; their trunk yielding balsam by in- 

 cision. Leaves alternate, pinnated equally or unequally ; leaflets 

 opposite or alternate, either dotted or not. Stipules generally 0. 

 Bracts extremely fugacious. Flowers arranged in compound 

 axillary and terminal spikes. 



578. C. Jacquini Desf. mem. mus. vii. 376. Hayne in Lin- 

 ncea i. 426. C. officinah's Jacq. amer. t. 86. S. and C. iii. 

 t. 158 West Indies. 



Leaves generally equally pinnated ; leaflets in 2-5 pairs, incurved, 

 ovate, unequal-sided, obtusely acuminate with pellucid dots. Hayne. 

 From this is obtained the Copaiva balsam of the West Indies. 



579. C. multijuga Hayne 1. c. Para. 



Leaves equally pinnated ; leaflets 6-10 pairs, somewhat incurved, un- 

 equal-sided, with a long tapering point, and pellucid dots ; the lower 

 ovate oblong, the upper lanceolate. Hayne. According to Hayne 

 this yields the Copaiva exported from Para. 



580. C. Langsdorfri Desf. in mem. mus. vii. 376. Hayne 1. c. 

 DC.prodr. ii. 509. Province of S. Paul, in Brazil. 



Leaflets in 3-5 pairs, equal-sided, obtuse, with pellucid dots ; the lower 

 ovate, the upper elliptical. Petioles and peduncles slightly downy. 

 Copaiva balsam of Brazil is furnished by this and the next species ac- 

 cording to Spix and Martius. 



581. C. coriacea Martius in Isis 1824. p. 589. Hayne 1. c. 

 Province of S. Paul, in Brazil. 



Leaflets in 2-3 pairs, elliptical, equal-sided, emarginate, not dotted. 

 Petioles and peduncles nearly smooth. The balsam of Copaiva an 

 acrid, bitter, nauseous liquid resin with stimulant, diuretic, and cathartic 

 properties, is apparently furnished by all the species of this genus : the 

 above are given upon, the authority of Hayne, who discontinues the 

 name of Copaifera officinalis which appears to have been applied indis- 

 criminately to many different species. 



MYROSPERMUM. 



Calyx campanulate, 5-toothed. Petals 5, the upper largest. 

 Stamens 10, distinct. Ovary stipitate, oblong, membranous, 

 with 2-6 ovules. Legume with a winged stalk terminating in 

 an oblique, indehiscent, 1 -celled, 1-2-seeded samara. Trees 

 with dotted leaves. 



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