390 NATURAL HISTORY OF PLANTS. 



xylon is entirely from tropical Asia, and Vismia from central America, 

 except four or five African species. In our view, according to what 

 has been said above, 1 these plants are Myrtacece with a convex re- 

 ceptacle and a gynsecium constantly free. We at the same time 

 recognize their affinities with the Cistacece, near which Adanson 2 

 formerly placed them, and we shall see that it is almost impossible 

 to distinguish them absolutely from the Clusiacece. 



Uses. 3 — The Hypericaceœ are rich in essential oil and gum- resinous 

 juices, often balsamic. In addition a bitter extractive principle 

 exists in the bark of many species. In the American species of 

 Vismia, particularly V. Caparosaf rnicratha, 5 longifolia, 6 latifolia, 7 

 sessifoUaf laccifera, 9 and cayennensis, 1 " the resinous juice, yellow or 

 reddish, has drastic properties ; it is sometimes brought to Europe 

 under the name of American gum-gutta. V. guianensis n (fig. 340- 

 343), bearing in Guyana the name of Fever tree, 12 has also a purgative 

 juice useful in the treatment of skin diseases. Its wood is employed 

 in building, and huts are covered with its inner bark. In Sierra 

 Leone and Angola Psorospermum febrifugum 13 has the same internal 

 uses as Vismia guianensis. Cratoxylon Homschuchil li is considered 

 diuretic and slightly astringent in Java. The St. John's Worts for- 

 merly had a similar reputation in Europe. They were esteemed as 

 balsamic, bitter, vermifuge, vulnerary, etc. Sometimes they were 

 also employed in dyeing and in the preparation of leather. The most 

 celebrated was Hypericum perforatum 15 (fig. 339, 350), which has 

 been prescribed for madness, dysentery, and pains in the joints. Its 

 leaves and flowers dye yellow, and the Swedes colour corn-spirit with 



1 See page 335. guianense Aubl. Guian. ii. 784, t. 311. — Llndl. 



2 Fam. des PI. ii. 444. pi. Med. 118. 



3 Endl. Enchirid. 540. — Gcib. Drug. Simpl. 12 Pois sanglant, P. à dartres, P. cossais, P. 

 éd. 6, iii.617. — LiNDL.i>7. Med. 117; Veg.Iunyd. d'acossais. 



(1846) 406.— Rosenth. Syn. PI. Diaphor. 748. 13 Spach, Ann. Se. Nat. sér. 2, v. 163.— P. 



4 H. B. K. Nov. Gen. et Spec. v. 182. ferrugineum Hook. f. — Harovgafebrifuga Steud. 

 Mart, ex Rosenth. op. cit. 751. 1 4 Bl. Pijdr. 143. 



6 A. S.-H. FI. Pras. Mer. i. 820, t. 68. " L. Spec. 1105.— DC. Prodr. i. 549, n. 70.— 



" Chois. Prodr. Hyper. 36. — Hypericum lati- Lindl. Fl. Med. 117. — MÉa. et Del. Diet. Mat. 



folium Aubl. Guian. ii. 787, t. 312, fig. 1. Méd. iii. 576. — Guib. Prog. Simpl. éd. 6, iii. 617, 



8 Pees. he. cit. — Hypericum sessilifolimn fig. 737. — Gken. et Godr. Fl. de Fr. i. 314. — 

 Aubl. Guian. ii. 787, t. 312, fig. 2. Caz. PI. Méd. Indig. éd. 3, 644. — Rosenth. op. 



9 Mart, ex Rosenth. he. rit. cit. 74S. — H. vulgare Lamk. Fl. Fr. iii. 151. — 



10 Pers. Syn. ii. 86. — Hypericum cayennense H. officinarum Ckantz. Fl. Austr. 99 (JSerie 

 L. Amain, viii. 321 (Pois Baptiste). Saint-Jean, H. à mille trous, H. aux piqûres, 



11 Pers. lue. cit. — -A. S.-H. Fl. Pras. Mer. i. Truchaan, Chasse-diable, Fuga dœmonum). 

 327.— Chois. DC. Prodr. i. 542.— Hypericum 



