MALVACEÆX. 121 
blennorrhagic. Trochetia Erytkroxylon," a plant which is now said to 
have disappeared from the vegetation of St. Helena, was formerly 
used there as an emollient. The bark of Aydia calycina Roxs. is 
employed in India in sudorific and depurative infusions, and is 
reputed to cure elephantiasis. The seeds of Herttiera are bitter and 
tonic, and are used in dyeing. Z/elicleres corylifolia Wicut has a 
bitter and stomachic root. In short, all-the preceding species seem 
to act as antiphlogisties by their emollient principle, or as astrin- 
gents by the tannin which they contain. The properties of certain 
Bombaceæ cannot be so described. Thus the bark of the American 
species of Bombax*® and of some Asiatic species of the same genus, 
called Salmalia are emetic. The flowers of B. malabaricum 
DC. secrete a nectar which is purgative and diuretic. The bark 
of Zriodendron anfractuosum DC. is said to be an emetic,’ as is 
also that of the root of Ochroma Lagopus. There are in different 
parts of the world more than a hundred and fifty JJ/alvacee em- 
ployed as drugs. 
We have spoken of their textile properties. Their liber is often 
tenacious, flexible, formed of separable layers, like that of the 
Tiliacee ; consequently it is possible by maceration to separate from 
it thread-like substances, pretty generally employed in certain 
countries. But the frequent anastomoses which may be observed 
in the same layer of lber between the adjacent bundles, cause 
the bundles to be rarely separable from each other, and hinder 
these different J/alvacee from being generally used in the manu- 
factures. It has, however, been recommended to cultivate extensively 
in the marshes of Southern Europe //discus roseus, as H. cannabinus 
L. and verrucosus L. are cultivated in India on account of their 
textile liber. It would yield an abundant thread-like substance, 
although of inferior quality. Cords, coarse thread, bands, fish- 
nets, and even paper are made from many of the Rose Mallows in 

1 Melhania Erythroxylon Aït. Hort, Kew., 4 Although most of its parts are emollient 
ed. 2, iv. 146.—DC., Prodr., i, 499, n. 2.— and mucilaginous. 
Dombeya Erythroxylon Hoox., in Bot, Mag.,t. 5 See Linpu., Fl. Med. 135-144; Veg. 
1000, Kingd., 361, 364, 369.—ENDL., Enchirid,, 512, 
2 Especially of the B. Ceiba L., Spec., 959.— 517, 520.—Rosenru., op. cit., 705, 716. 
B. quinatum Jacg., Amer., 129, t. 176, fig. 1. 5 Tuor., in Loisel. Fl. Gall,, ii. 434.—DC., 
The B. cumanense H. B. K. andseptenatum Jacq.  Prodr., i. 450, n. 53. 
3 Especially the S. Wightii ENDL, whose 
fruit is also edible. 
