468 xanthoxylacejE — simaeubace^. 



serratifolia, and hetidina, are used in medicine under the name of 

 Buchu. They contain a yellowish volatile oil, having a powerful 

 odour, and they have been used as stimulants and antispasmodics. 

 They are prescribed in catarrh of the bladder. Jahorandi, a sudorific 

 and sialagogue from Pemambuco, appears to be the produce of a 

 species . of Pilocarpus. Galipea Ousparia [O. officinalis, or Bon- 

 plandia trifoliata), a plant found in Venezuela, supplies the Angos- 

 tura bark, which is used as a tonic and febrifuge. The bark is im- 

 ported by way of Trinidad. On the continent Angostura bark is 

 sometimes adulterated with the poisonous bark of Strychnos Nux- 

 vomica. Some of the species of Dictamnus, such as D. Fraxinella, 

 False Dittany, abound in volatile oil to such a degree that the atmo- 

 sphere around them becomes inflammable in hot, dry, and calm 

 weather. The Gorreas are remarkable for their gamopetalous corolla. 

 The leaves of some of the species have been used for tea in Australia. 

 Order 53. — Xanthoxylacb^ or Zanthoxylace^, the Xanthoxy- 

 lon Family. (Polypet. Sypog.) Flowers unisexual. Calyx in 3, 4, 

 or 5 segments, with imbricated aestivation. Petals the same num- 

 ber, rarely 0, usually larger than the calyx ; aestivation imbricated or 

 convolute. Stamens as many, or twice as many, as the petals, not 

 developed in the female flowers. Ovary consisting of as many 

 carpels as there are petals (sometimes fewer), the carpels being either 

 completely or partially united (fig. 414, p. 238) ; ovules 2, rarely 4, 

 in each carpel; styles more or less combined (fig. 414 s, p. 238). 

 Fruit baccate or membranous, sometimes of 2-5 cells, sometimes of 

 several drupes, or 2-valved capsules, the fleshy sarcocarp of which is 

 partially separable from the endocarp. Seeds solitary or in pairs, pen- 

 dulous ; embryo lying within fleshy albumen ; radicle superior ; coty- 

 ledons ovate, flat. — Trees or shrubs, with exstipulate, alternate, or 

 opposite leaves, having pellucid dots. They exist chiefly in the 

 tropical parts of America. Authors enumerate. 24 genera, including 

 160 species. Examples — Xanthoxylon, Toddalia, Ptelea. 



The plants yield a volatile oil, which is aromatic and pungent. 

 Some are diaphoretic in their properties, others are febrifugal and 

 tonic. The pungency of species of Xanthoxylon has caused them 

 sometimes to be denominated peppers. Xanthoxylon fraxinewm, or 

 prickly ash, acts as a sialagogue. X. caribceum has a bitter and febri- 

 fugal bark. The bitter principle secreted by many of the plants of 

 this order is called Xanthopicrine. Toddalia aculeata, a prickly climb- 

 ing plant of the Indian Peninsula, the Mauritius, and Southern China, 

 furnishes a pungent aromatic root. The bark of the root is used in 

 India as a stimulating tonic. It was formerly known in Europe as 

 Radix indica Lopeziana. 



Order 54. — Simarubace.®, the Quassia and Simaxuba Family. 

 (Polypet. Hypog.) Flowers usually hermaphrodite. Calyx in 4 or 5 



