168 



NATURAL HISTORY OF PLANTS. 



are used the same way in Egypt, like those of C. Fontanesia* in 

 Barbary, and C. rupesfris 2 in Greece. The bark of the roots of most 

 of these species tastes bitter and pungent ; that of C. spinosa was 

 formerly used as an aperient and deobstruant. We find much 

 more marked properties in the roots of several species from Equi- 

 noctial America; the bark is not only stimulant but vesicating. 

 Hence the use of that of C. cynopliallophora? Breynia, 4 jamaicensis? 

 femtyinea, 6 in the Antilles ; it is also considered emmenagogue, diu- 

 retic, and hydragogue. The fruit of C. Breynia is held antispasmodic, 

 and its flowers and root antihysteric and aperient. This idea may 

 be due to the foetid smell of most of these plants ; for the same excre- 

 mentitious smell characterizes many antispasmodic remedies. C. 

 Morkonia'' one kind of the Mabouia-wood of the Antilles, is thought 

 to have similar qualities. The fruit of C.frondosa* andpulc/ierriwa, 9 

 are reputed poisonous in the same countries. Von Martius says that 

 horses and mules have died from eating the leaves of C. Yco, in Brazil. 10 

 Strangely enough, other species of the same genus are considered 

 antidotal. The leaves of C. Bahi Forsk. and C. mithridatica Forsk. 

 are rubbed in on snake-bites in Egypt. In India, C. Reedii, Beyneana, 

 and brevispina are prescribed for vermin and many other affections. 

 The fruits of C. Sodada u are simply edible ; but then they are always 

 cooked beforehand in Egypt and Arabia. In Cadaba and Crotava 

 we find the same diversity of properties. Cadaba indica 12 is thought 

 an anthelmintic; C.farinosa is chewed, audits powder is used as 



1 DC, Prodr., n. 5.— C. ovata Desf., Fl. 

 AH., i. 404 (nee Bieb.). 



2 Sibth. & Sm., Fl. Grcpc., t. 487.— DC, 

 Prodr., n. 3. This species and the preceding 

 ones are held to he mere forms or varieties of C. 

 spiiiosa by W. D. G. Koch (in Raid. Dentsch. 

 F/., iv., ex Ann. Sc Nat., ser. 2, iii. 370). C. 

 rupestris he would make an unarmed variety of 

 C. spinosa. 



3 L., Spec, 721.— DC, Prodr., i. 249, n. 61.— 

 Lixdt,., loc. cit., n. 199. 



* Jacq, Amer., 161, t. 103. — L., Spec, ed. 2, 

 i. 721.— DC, Prodr., i. 252, n. 95 (nee Sw.) — 

 Tbiana & Pl., in Ann. Sc. Nat., ser. 4, xvii. 

 80. — C. umiigdaliiia Laiik., Did., i. 608. — C. 

 barcelonensis H. B. K., Nov. Gen. et Spec, v. 

 92. — Breynia indica L., Spec, ed. 1, 503 (Feve 

 du dialle, Jiois caea, of the Antilles). 



5 Jacq., Amer., t. 101. 



6 L., Amcen., v. 598. — P. Br., Jam., t. 28, fig. 

 1.— DC, Prodr., i. 251, n. 89.— C. oclrandra 

 Jacq., Amer., t. 100. 



7 Say., Ols., 272. — Morisonia americana L., 

 Spec, 719.— Jacq,, Amer., t. 97.— DC, Prodr., 

 i. 211. 



8 Jacq., Amer., 162, t. 104.— DC, Prodr., i. 

 249, n. 51. 



9 Jacq., Amer., 163, t. 106.— DC, loc cit., n. 

 250. 



10 Eichl., in Mart. Fl. Bras., Cappar., 272, t. 

 60. — Colicodendron Yco Mabt., St/st.Mat. Med. 

 Bras., 72 ; Kerb. Fl. Bras., 201. 



11 Sodada decidua Fobsk., Fl. Mgiiyt.-Arab., 

 81.— Del., Fl. Mgypt., 74, t. 26.— DC, Prodr., 

 i. 245. 



12 Lamk., Diet., i. 511. — Cleome fruticosa L., 

 Spec, 937.— Bibu., Fl. Ind., t. 46, fig. 3. 



