480 LEGUMINOS^. 



with, cold water, a bulky jelly, while it is soluble in boiling water. It 

 contains both Arabin and Bassorin in its composition, and is used as 

 a demulcent. Myrospermum (^Myroxylon) Pereirm yields the Balsam 

 of Peru, while Myrospermum (Myroxyhn) toluiferum is the source of 

 the Balsam of Tolu. These balsams are procured chiefly by making 

 incisions in the trees. They consist of resinous and oily matter, with 

 cinnamic acid, and they are used as stimulant expectorants. Ptsro- 

 carpus Marsupium, a tree of the Indian forests, furnishes the concrete 

 exudation called Kino. Butea frondosa, the Dhak tree of the East 

 Indies, yields a similar product ; it has bright orange-red petals, and 

 a black calyx. African Kino is procured from Pterocarpus erinaceus. 

 Kino is used as a powerful astringent, and is administered in the form 

 of powder and tincture. Broom-tops, procured from Cytisus {Sarotham- 

 rnts) Scoparius, are used as a diuretic. The hairs from the legumes of 

 Mucuna pruriens in the West Indies, and of M. Prurita in the East, 

 under the name of Cowhage, or Oowitch, have irritating properties, 

 and, mixed with syrup, they are used in the treatment of intestinal 

 worms. The leaves of Oolutea ariorescens, Bladder-Senna (fig. 566, 

 p. 313), are purgative, and are used abroad to adulterate the obovate 

 or blunt-pointed Senna. The leaves of Tephrosia apoUinea are also 

 purgative, and are occasionally mixed with Alexandrian Senna. The 

 bark of Andira inermis, the Oabbage-tree of the West-Indies, acts as 

 a purgative and anthelmintic. The fruit of Oeqfroya superba, Umari, 

 is much used by the inhabitants of Brazil on the banks of the Rio 

 San Francisco ; the fruit is a drupe. 



Besides the plants which have active medicinal qualities, there are 

 others which are valuable in commerce and the arts, as furnishing 

 food, dyes, fibres, timber. Various species of Indigofera, as I. tinctoria 

 and ccerulea, furnish the Indigo of commerce. Pterocarpus santalinus 

 yields red Sandal-wood, which is used as a dye. It is probably the 

 DiJDPN Almug or Algum-trees i of Scripture. P. Draco yields Gum- 

 Dragon, and P. Dalbergioides is said to yield Andaman redwood, and 

 to be valuable both as a dye and as timber. Baptisia tinctoria gives 

 a blue dye, and is the wUd Indigo of the United States. Dalbergia 

 Sissoo is an Indian forest tree, which is valued on account of its wood. 

 Crotalaria juncea supplies fibres, which are known as Sun or Bengal 

 Hemp. The fragrant seeds of Dipterix odorata are known as Tonka- 

 beans. A similar fragrance is given out by some species of Melilot, 

 the flowers and seeds of which are employed to give the peculiar odour 

 to Gruyere cheese. Arachis hypogcea produces its legumes under 

 groimd, and receives the name of underground Kidney-bean, or 

 Ground-nut. Erythrina monosperma yields Gum lac. The roots of 

 Glycine Apios, or Apios tuberosa, are used as an article of food in Ame- 

 rica. Robinia pseudo-acacia is often cultivated in Britain as the Locust- 

 tree. The tree attains in England a height varying from forty-five to 



