106 



CASE Loosestrife Order {Lythrarieae). Principally herbs 



57, with entire, opposite leaves, widely dispersed over the 



globe, some of the tropical species being shrubs or trees. 



The common Purple Loosestrife {Lythruyn Salicaria, L.) 



of wet ditches, represents the Order in Britain. 



Observe the dried flowers, wood, bark, and gum of 

 Woodfordia jiorihunda^ Salisb., a large shrub common 

 throughout India and distributed in Tropical Africa, 

 Madagascar, and China. The flowers are used for dyeing 

 red in India. 



No. 279. Tulip Wood, from Physocalymma scaher- 

 rimum, Pohl, a Brazilian tree. The wood is beautifully 

 marked with red streaks, and is used for inlaying costly 

 furniture, caskets, &c. ; a small box made of the wood is 

 exhibited. 



No. 280. Henna, the powdered leaves of Lawsonia 

 alha, Lamk., a shrub found throughout India, in Cabul, 

 Persia, &c., and cultivated in many tropical and warm 

 countries. Made uj) into a paste, and used by the Eastern 

 women to dye their nails, by way of ornament, an orange- 

 colour. The colour lasts from three to four weeks. 

 Specimens are exhibited from Erzeroum, East Indies, 

 Somali Coast, &c., also a packet of Henna as sold at 

 Damascus. Fruits, wood, and bark of the shrub are 

 likewise shown. 



On the upper shelves of the next compartment are 

 specimens of the leaves, fruits, bark, and wood of 

 Lagerstroemia Flos-regintv, Retz, described as the chief 

 timber tree of Assam, Eastern Bengal and Chittagong, 

 and one of the most important trees of Burma. Wood 

 used for ^^hip-building, boats, canoes, gun-carriages, &c. 

 Note also wood, bark, and gum, of L. iKirviflora^ Koxb., a 

 large forest tree of India. The wood is employed by the 

 natives for house-building, agricultural implements, &c. 

 The bark is used both for dyeing and tanning, and the 

 leaves are eaten by the Tasar silkworm. 



No. 281. Pomegranates, the produce of Punica 

 Granatiim^ L., cultivated from early antiquity for its 

 fruit ; naturalised in the Mediterranean region, but a 

 native of Western Asia, south of the Caspian, and not of 



