BOSALSS. 633 



Besmodium gyrans, an East Indian plant, is remarkable for the 

 spontaneous movements of its leaves. Tlie leaves are compound, the 

 terminal leaflet being large, while the lateral ones are small ; under 

 proper conditions the lateral leaflets alternately rise and fall by quick 

 jerks, continuing this for hours without any apparent external cause. 



Sub-Order II. Ccesatpiniece, with flowers zygomorphic or ac- 

 tinomorphic ; stamens generally ten, usually distinct. 



The Tamarind is the fruit of a North African and East Indian tree of 

 this sub-order, Tamarindus Indica. 



Senna, a medicinal drug, is the dried foliage of African and East 

 Indian species of Cassia. 



Gum Copal, much used in making varnishes, is derived, at least in 

 part, from East. Africa and Madagascar trees belonging to the genera 

 Tracliyldbium and nymencea. 



Copaiva Balsam is obtained from Brazilian trees {Gopaifera, sp.) by 

 making deep incisions into the trunks. 



The pulverized wood of C(esalpina ecMnata, a Brazilian tree, yields 

 the red dye Brazil-wood ; that from Mmmatoxylon 

 CampeacManum, a small tree of Central America, is 

 the well-known and valuable dark-red dye Logwood. 



Many timber trees are of great value — e.g., the 

 Mora Tree of Guiana (Dimorphandra Mora), whose 

 heavy durable timber is in great repute in the British 

 navy yards ; the West India Locust (HymencRa Cour- j,. ^a^^^^Cfoss- 

 haril), used in ship-building ; the Honey Locust of the section of the seed 

 Eastern United States (GUditscMa triacantTios), -which °howinf*tSe abun- 

 furnishes a valuable timber used by wheelwrights dant endosperm.— 

 for making hubs ; the Kentucky Coffee Tree of the ^^S^^^^'^- 

 Eastern United States (Oymnocladus Canadensis), whose red wood 

 somewhat resembles Mahogany ; the Judas Trees (Cercis, sp.), whose 

 wood is prized in Europe for cabinet-making. 



Sub-Order III. Mimosece. — Flowers actinomorphic, small, 

 and generally collected into close heads or spikes ; stamens distinct, 

 two to many times the number of petals. 



One of the most important of the vegetable gums — Gum Arabic or 

 Gum Acacia — is furnished by trees of this sub-order belonging to the 

 genus Acacia. The greatest supply is obtained from A. vera and A. 

 Ardbica, natives of Northern Africa, Arabia, and the East Indies. 



The genus Acacia is abundantly represented in Australia, where 

 many of its species, called Wattles, yield most excellent timber. That 

 of A. melanoxylon " Is most valuable for furniture, railway carriages, 

 boat-building, casks, billiard-tables, piano-fortes (for sounding-boards 

 and actions), and numerous other purposes. The fine-prained wood is 

 cut into veneers. It takes a fine polish, and is considered equal to the 

 best walnut." (Mueller.) 



