APOCYNACE^E. 



Nat. syst. ed. 2. p. 299. 

 * Fruit drupaceous. 



CERBERA. 



Calyx permanent, 5-parted, leafy. Corolla hypocrateriform ; 

 tube clavate ; throat 5-angled, with 5 scales ; limb 5-parted, 

 contorted. Stamens 5, short, in the middle of the tube. Drupe 

 with a hard, woody, fibrous, 1-2-seeded putamen. 



1110. C. Tanghin Hooker in Bot. Mag. t. 2968. Tanghinia 

 Thouars. gen. nov. mad. p. 10. Tanghinia venenifera Poiret in 

 encycl. suppl. v. 283. Madagascar. (Voa Tanghin.) 



This constitutes a tree in its native climate, having crowded or clus- 

 tered leaves and erect branches. The leaves are from 4 to 6 and 8 or 

 10 inches long, lanceolate, tapering at the base, subcoriaceous, quite 

 entire. Flowers in large terminal panicles, with white flowers, having 

 a tinge of rose-colour on the outside, and a deeper red circle round the 

 mouth. Calyx 5-fid, patent. Corolla longer than the calyx, funnel- 

 shaped, dilated upwards, \ the limb plain, contorted, 5-lobed. Stamens 

 5 ; anthers sessile, inserted into the dilated part of the tube, heart- 

 shaped, having a tubercle under each. Ovary double. Style single. 

 Stigma capitate, with 2 tubercles at the point, included within the an- 

 thers. Drupes 2, or by abortion solitary, pyriform, acuminated. Nut 

 filamentous, woody. Albumen none. Cotyledons long, thick, concave. 

 Thouars. The kernel of the fruit a deadly poison; although not 

 larger than an almond it is sufficient to destroy 20 people. It was used 

 in Madagascar as'an ordeal, but the practice is now discontinued. N.B. 

 It is very doubtful whether this is different from the next species. 



1111. C. Manghas Linn. sp. pi. 303, Lam. encycl. i. 61. 

 Gartn. defruct. ii. t. 123. 124-. (Burm. zeylan. 150. t. 70. f. 1. 

 Humph, ii. t. 81.) A common plant in wet situations in the 

 East Indies. 



Leaves broad-lanceolate, stalked, smooth, entire, clustered at the 

 ends of the branches. Racemes terminal, branched, unequal. Calyx 

 with lanceolate, coloured, deciduous leaves. Corolla white, with a 

 tube longer than the calyx, and a limb shorter than the tube. Anthers 

 ovate, quadrangular, covered by the wool of the tube. Drupe as large 

 as a goose's egg, ovate, green, marked with numerous white points, com- 

 pressed. Seeds 2, as large as chesnuts. The kernels are emetic and 

 poisonous ; the milky sap is employed as a purgative. According to 

 Waiz the leaves and bark are so similar to Senna in their action that 

 they are substituted for it in Java. 



1112. C. Ahovai Linn, has also very poisonous seeds. The 

 bark and sap are emetic and narcotic. 



527 



