64 DESCRIPTIVE BOTANY. 



Geography. — The Bixa grows in tropical America, and has been introduced 

 by Europeans into southern Europe, Burmah, the Philippine Islands, and 

 Hindustan. It grows freely in all regions of no frost. 



Etymology. — Bixa is the South American name for this tree, and the com- 

 mon name Annatto is quite as obscure as to its signification. 



History. — It was noticed that the natives of tropical America painted or 

 stained their skin with a bright yellow dye. On inquiry it was learned that 

 the material was obtained from the pulp in which the seeds of the Bixa were 

 imbedded. 



The pulp is washed or soaked off the seeds, the water is then removed by 

 evaporation, and the residuum is made into cakes, in which form it is intro- 

 duced into the market Avrapped in leaves. The soft wood is used by the natives 

 of tropical America to obtain fire by friction. 



Use. — The fiber of the stem furnishes excellent material for cordage. 



The coloring matter is said to be of a fire color, and when mixed with cheese 

 or butter it imparts a rich, creamy yellow ; it is largely used in Holland and 

 England as well as in America for that purpose. It is also used to color var- 

 nish, and it is mixed with chocolate to enliven the color and to improve the 

 flavor. The roots are used in soups. The seeds are cordial, and a drink 

 made from them is said to be remedial in allaying fevers. 



Marts. — Tlie annual import of annatto into England is about 300,000 

 pounds, valued at about $65,000. 



Order VIII. TERNSTRCEMIACE^. 



Sepals 5, occasionally 4:-6 or 7, free or slightly connate at the base, 

 imbricated in the bud. Petals 5, free, hj^^ogynous, imbricated or 

 twisted. Stamens sometimes equal in number to the petals, but 

 usually indefinite. Flowers perfect, regular, axillary, solitary, or 

 fascicled, sometimes in terminal racemes or panicles. Ovary 3-5- 

 celled. Ovules pendulous or ascending. Fruit indehiscent or cap- 

 sular. Leaves alternate, occasionally opposite, frequently fascicled, 

 at summit of the branchlets. Trees or shrubs. 



Number of genera, 32. 



THEA, L. (Tea.) Calyx 5-parted, sepals short and scale-like. 

 Corolla much longer than the calyx, white. Stamens many. Style 

 3-parted. Several flowers appear in the axils of the leaves. Capsule 

 3-celled. Shrubs. 



1. T. viridis, L. Stem in a natural state grows to the height of 15 to 20 feet, 

 but is dwarfed under cultivation, by stripping the leaves, and seldom reaches a 

 height above 5 feet, diffusely branched. Leaves lanceolate, entire at the base, 

 serrate, with blunt teeth towards the apex, alternate. Flowers white. When 

 grown in the Middle States, it flowers in winter under glass. 



2. T, Bohea, L. corresponds with T. viridis except that the flower has many 

 petals, and is most likely a variety of it, as the only striking difference is in 

 the numerous petals. 



Varieties. — The tea plant is grown from seed, and sports freely ; hence there 

 are many varieties, differing from each other chiefly in the form of the leaf. 



