SALVADORACE^E. 



Nat. syst. ed. 2. p. 269. 



SALVADORA. 



Calyx small, quadrifid, with ovate rather obtuse segments 

 Corolla quadripartite, with revolute segments. Styles short, 

 with a simple, obtuse, umbilicated stigma. Berry globose, 

 1 -celled, with a spherical seed, enwrapped in a callous tunic. 



875. S. persica Garc.phiL trans. 174-9. n. 491. Vahl. symb. 

 i. 12. t. 4. Lam. illustr. t. 81. Roxb.fl. ind. i. 389. corom. pi. 

 i. 26. t. 26. Rivina paniculata Linn. syst. veg. ed. xv. 171. 

 Cissus arborea Forsk. descr. 32. Most parts of the Circars of 

 India ; Arabia ; Persian Gulf. 



Trunk generally crooked, from 8 to 10 feet high to the branches, and 

 1 in diameter. Bark very scabrous, and deeply cracked. Branches 

 exceedingly numerous, spreading, with their extremities perfectly pen- 

 dulous, like the weeping willow. Leaves opposite, stalked, oval or 

 oblong, entire, very smooth, and shining on both sides, without veins ; 

 from 1 to 2 inches long, and about 1 broad. Stipules none. Panicles 

 terminal, and from the exterior axils. Flowers minute, very numerous, 

 greenish-yellow. Bracts minute. Calyx inferior, 4-toothed, perma- 

 nent. Corolla monopetalous ; tube short; border 4-cleft; segments 

 oblong, revolute. Filaments 4, inserted into the tube of the corolla 

 under its fissures, and rather shorter than the border. Anthers oval. 

 Ovary globular; style none; stigma scabrous. Berry very minute, 

 much smaller than a grain of black pepper, smooth, red, juicy. Seed 

 single. The fruit has a strong aromatic smell, and tastes like Garden 

 cress. The bark of the root is remarkably acrid ; bruised and applied 

 to the skin it soon raises blisters, for which the natives of India often 

 use it. As a stimulant it promises to be a medicine of very considerable 

 power. Roxb. It is supposed to be the Mustard Tree of Scripture. 



477 



