132 DESCRIPTIVE BOTANY. 



Species. — There are about 80 species of Terminalia ; those besides the 

 T. chebula whose products enter iuto commerce are — 



2. T. bellerica, Koxb. 



3. T. citrina, Roxb. 



4. T. catappa, L. 



5. T. angustifolia, Wight. 



Geography. — The homes of all the species which yield the myrobalans 

 of commerce are in tropical India, along the southern fringes of the Ghaut 

 mountains, and in Burmah, 



Ktymoloyij. — Terminalia, the generic name, is from the circumstance that 



the leaves are usually at the ends of the branches, and is derived from the 



Latin terminalis, belonging to the end. The 



specific, chebula, is Arabic, but the signification 



is not known. 



Myrobalans is the old Latin name for the 

 fruit, through the Greek fxvpou, sweet juice, and 

 &a\auos, a drupe-like fruit. 



History. — The products of terminalia were 



unknown to the early botanists. Their medical 



qualities were revealed in the writings of Ara- 



Terminalia chebula bian naturalists, but especially by those of Prince 



(Myrobalans). Mesues, a learned physician who lived about 



the middle of the twelfth century. The fruits 



were first introduced into Europe by the way of Arabia and the Red Sea. 



They are brought to market in a preserved state, and the bark and pits are 



shipped, either entire or in a pulverized state, for tanning and dyeing. 



Use. — The medicinal properties are purgative, tonic, and astringent. In 

 India and China it is highly prized, and supposed to possess curative proper- 

 ties for every ill. The wood is hard takes a fine polish, and is used for cabinet 

 work. 



The fruit, bark, and leaves are all charged with tannin. They also yield a 

 dye which, with alum, produces a beautiful yellow, and with iron, a fine black. 

 The leaves and bark of the T. catappa furnish a pigment from which the cele- 

 brated India ink is made. 



T. angustifolia is charged with a fragrant juice of a creamy consistency. 

 This, when dried, is used in the temples for incense, and for tanning and 

 dyeing. 



The tree itself is sacred, and has a mythological origin and history. 



Order XXV. MYRTACE^. (Suborder Myrte^.) 



Flowers perfect, regular, axillary, solitary, or in spikes, cymes, 

 corymbs, or panicles. Calyx superior, limb 4-6-parted, persistent, or 

 falling, valvate in the bud, occasionally entire, falling away Avdth the 

 expansion of the flower. Petals inserted in the throat of calyx. 

 Stamens inserted on the cal\Tc throat, mostly numerous, frequently 

 double or treble the parts of corolla, or indefinite ; filaments thread- 

 like, free or in bundles. Ovary with 2 or more cells ; seeds numerous. 

 Leaves opposite, rarely whorled, entire, exstipulate. Berry or capsule 



