CLASSIFICATION OF ANGIOSPERMS. 317 



and an acrid volatile principle; the Blinding-tree (Exccecaria 

 Agallocha) of Southern Asia and Australia, the juice of whicfh 

 produces blindness. 



The gum-resin euphorbium is obtained from Euphorbia rcs- 

 inifera, a cactus-like plant of Morocco, and is also found in other 

 species of Euphorbia. If contains, among other constituents, 38 

 per cent, of an acrid resin, and 22 per cent, of a crystalline prin- 

 ciple euphorbon. 



The milk- juice of several species of Euphorbia is used in 

 the preparation of arrow poisons in Brazil. One or more species 

 of the following genera are used as fish poisons : Flueggea, Phyl- 

 lanthus, Bridelia, Excoecaria and Euphorbia. A number of plants 

 are used as remedies for the bites of serpents, as the bark of 

 Phyllaiifhiis mollis of Java; the leaves of several species of Anti- 

 desina of Malabar and the East Indies ; and Euphorbia piluUfera 

 of South America and India. The young twigs of Croton flaveiis 

 of Jamaica, Hayti and South America, are used as an insecticide. 



A camphor-containing oil is found in the bark of Pentalo- 

 stigina quadriloculavc of Australia ; the aromatic wood of Col- 

 liguaya odorifcra of Chile is used as a substitute for santal and 

 on burning emits a rose-like odor; the leaf of Croton mcntho- 

 dorus of Peru contains an oil with an odor of mentha ; a balsam 

 resembling Copaiba is derived from the bark of Croton origaui- 

 foliiis of the West Indies ; methylamine is found in Mcrciirialis 

 annua of Europe and other species of Mercurialis. Tannin is 

 found in the following genera: Macaranga, Phyllanthus and 

 Bridelia; Brazil kino is obtained from a species of Croton (C. 

 crythrans?) of Brazil. A gum-lac is formed on the stems of 

 Aleurites laccifcra of the Antilles and Ceylon as a result of the 

 sting of an insect, and contains among other substances a large 

 amount of melyl- and ceryl-alcohols, and a substance resembling 

 abietic acid. The sap of Euphorbia cyparissias of Europe yields 

 a resin which is sometimes substituted for scammony. 



A reddish resinous substance resembling dragon's blood is 

 obtained from Croton crythrcma of Brazil; a yellow coloring 

 principle is found in the seed of Croton tinctorins of Mexico; 

 poncetin, a violet coloring principle, occurs in Euphorbia hetero- 

 phylla of Brazil; a blue coloring principle is found in Chrozo- 



