EOSACE.^. 485 



disk, fruit a 1-5-celled (fig. 568, p. 314) or spuriously 10-oelledpomum. 

 There are 71 known genera, and about 1000 species. Examples — 

 Chrysobalanus, Amygdalus, Prunus, Spiraea, Quillaia, Sanguisorba, 

 Poterium, Potentilla, Eubus, Fragaria, Eosa, Neurada, Pyrus. 



Many of the plants of the order yield edible fruits, such as 

 Easpberries, Strawberries, Brambles, Plums, Apples, Pears, Quinces, 

 Cherries, Almonds, Peaches, Nectarines, and Apricots. Some are 

 astriagent, others yield hydrocyanic acid. Those belonging to the 

 sub-order Chrysobalanece are principally natives of the tropical parts 

 of Africa and America. Many of them furnish edible fruits. The 

 drupes of Chrysobalanus Icaco are eaten in the West Indies under 

 the name of cocoa-plums. The root and bark are used as astringents. 



The plants in the tribe Amygdalece are chiefly remarkable on 

 account of the presence of hydrocyanic acid in their kernels, leaves, 

 or flowers. Amygdalus communis, the Almond-tree, grows naturally 

 in Barbary and in Asia, from Syria to Affghanistan. It is extensively 

 cultivated in the south of Europe. It is the IpB*, ShaJeed, of the Old 

 Testament. There are two varieties of the tree, — a. dulcis, yielding 

 the sweet Almond, and jS. amara, yielding the bitter Almond. In the 

 former the style is much longer than the stamens, and there are glands 

 on the base of the leaf; whUe in the latter the style is equal in length 

 to the stamens, and the glands are situated on the petioles. The chief 

 kinds of sweet Almonds are the Valentia, the Italian, and the Jordan 

 Almonds ; the latter come from Malaga. Under the name of shell 

 Almonds, they are often sold with the brittle endocarps on them. 

 They consist chemically of a bland fixed oU, and a kind of vegetable 

 albumen called Emulsin or Synaptase. Bitter Almonds are imported 

 from Mogadore. Besides a fixed oil and synaptase, they contain a 

 bitter azotised principle called Amygdalin, which, when brought into 

 contact with a solution of Emulsin, produces a volatile oil containing 

 hydrocyanic acid. This gives rise to the peculiar aroma of bitter 

 Almonds when mixed with water. Sweet Almonds are used medi- 

 cinally, in the form of Emulsion, as demulcents. The hydrocyanated 

 essential oil of bitter Almonds is sedative, and has been used as a 

 substitute for Prussic acid. They sometimes produce derangement of 

 the digestive functions, and give rise to nettle-rash. The leaves of 

 Amygdalus persiea (Perdca vulgaris of some), the Peach, contain a 

 similar oU, and have been employed as sedative and vermifuge. The 

 flowers of the Peach exhale the odour of bitter Almonds. Peaches 

 are divided into Freestone and Clingstone, according as the pulp (sarco- 

 carp) separates easily from the endooarp or adheres to it. The fruit 

 of Prunus domestica, the Plum-tree and its varieties, when dried, con- 

 stitute Prunes, which are used medicinally, on account of their nutri- 

 tive and laxative qualities. Some think that the BuUace, Damson, 

 Orleans Plum, and the Quetches, are all derived from the common 



