anacaediacbjE. 473 



dyeing yellow. The fruit of many species of Zisyphus is used for 

 food ; Zizyphus Jujuba supplies the fruit called Jujuhe ; and the 

 Lotus, or Lote-bush of the classics, whence the Lotophagi were named, 

 is Zizyphus Lotus. A kind of Scinde lac is found on Zizyphus Jvjuba. 

 Paliurus aculeatus, Christ's-thorn, is common in the hedges of Judea. 

 Ceanothus Americanus is used in America as an astringent, and its 

 leaves, under the name of New Jersey Tea, have been used as a sub- 

 stitute for tea. The leaves of Sageretia theemns are used for the same 

 purpose by the poorer classes in China. Phylica arborea is a tree 

 found in the island of Tristan d'Acunha, and also on Amsterdam 

 Island in the South Indian Ocean, the two islands being separated 

 by 5000 miles of ocean, and being nearly in the same latitude. 



Order 61. — Anacaediace^, the Cashew-nut Family. (Polypd. 

 Perigyn.) Flowers usually unisexual. Calyx usually small and per- 

 sistent, with 5, or sometimes 3-4-7 divisions. Petals equal in num- 

 ber to the calycine divisions, perigynous, sometimes ; imbricated in 

 sestivation. Stamens either equal to the petals in number and alter- 

 nate with them, or twice as many or more ; filaments distinct or 

 cohering at the base, usually perigynous. Disk fleshy, annular or 

 cup-shaped, sometimes inconspicuous. Ovary single, rarely 5 or 6, 

 free or adhering to the calyx, 1 -celled ; ovule solitary, attached by a 

 funiculus to the bottom' or along the side of the cell ; styles 1-3, 

 occasionally 4 ; sigmas 1-3 or 4. Fruit usually drupaceous and inde- 

 hiscent. Seed ascending or frequently pendulous, from the adherence 

 of the funiculus to the angle of the cell, exalbuminous ; radicle inferior 

 or superior, sometimes curved suddenly back ; cotyledons thick, fleshy, 

 or leafy. — Trees or shrubs, with a resinous, often caustic juice, and 

 alternate leaves without dots. The order is a subdivision of the 

 Terebinthacese of Jussieu. The natural order Sabiacb*, embracing 

 East Indian plants, is considered by some as a tribe of Terebinthacese. 

 The plants inhabit chiefly the tropical parts of America, Africa, and 

 India ; some, however, are found in Europe. The order is unknown 

 in Australia. There are 46 known genera and 450 species. Examples 

 — Anacardium, Rhus, Mangifera, Spondias. 



The order is characterised by the presence of an acrid resinous 

 juice. In some cases, however, the fruit of the plants is edible. 

 Many of them supply varnishes. Anaca/rdium occidentaU furnishes the 

 Cashew-nut, which is remarkable for its large succulent peduncle sup- 

 porting the fruit or nut (fig. 248, p. 173). The pericarp has the acrid 

 properties which pervade the order, while the seed is eatable. A vesi- 

 cating oil is procured from the pericarp, and is called cardoh in the 

 East Indies. The fleshy peduncle is acid and edible, and a bland gum 

 exudes from the bark. Fistacia vera is the Pistacia or Pistachio nut- 

 tree, which extends from Syria to Bokhara and Caubul, and is culti- 

 vated in the south of Europe. It has green-coloured oily kernels. 



