XXI. BIXINE^. 243 



growing at the foot of Chiiiiborazo, is supposed to yield the root called CuichuiichuUi, prescribed by the 

 Americans for tubercular elephantiasis. 



The medical properties of Alsodinecp are very obscure, and entirely differ from those of Violea. The 

 leaves and bark of Alsodeia Cunpa, which grows in New Granada, are bitter and astringent. The leaves of 

 A. castanecefolia and Loholobo, Brazilian species, are mucilaginous, and are cooked and eaten by the negros. 



XX. CANELLACEJ^} 



Glabrous aromatic trees. Leaves alternate, quite entire, penninerved, pellucid- 

 dotted ; stipules 0. Flowees 5 , regular, in terminal, lateral, or axillary cymes ; 

 hracteoles [s&pals of some authors) 3, orbicular, close under tlie calyx, much imbricate, 

 persistent ; sepals {petals of some) 4-5, free, thick, deciduous, much imbricate, the 

 inner narrowest. Petals {petaloid scales of some) as many as the sepals, thin, 

 imbricate or 0. Stamens hypogynous ; _y?Zamewfe connate into a tube ; anthers 20 or 

 fewer, linear, adnate to the outer surface of the tube, longitudinally 2-Yalved. Disk 

 0. Ovary free, 1-celled ; .placentas 2-5, parietal, 2- or more-ovuled ; style short, 

 thick; stigmas 2-5; ovules horizontal or ascending, almost anatropous. Beeky 

 indehiscent, 2-many-seeded. Seeds with a shining crustaceous testa ; albumen, 

 oily and fleshy. Embryo- straight or curved ? , radicle next the hilum ; cotyledons 



oblong. 



■GENERA. 



Canella. Cinnamodendron. Cinnamosma. 



A very small order, placed by Martins near Outtifera;, included by Lindley under PiUospo7-ece, and 

 placed by Miers near MoffiioUacecs ; but according to Bentham and Hooker fll. it has less afEnity with any 

 of the above orders than with Viulariea and Bixinece, differing from the first of these chiefly in the absence 

 of stipules, aromatic properties, and more numerous anthers, which are extrorse, and adnate to the staminal 

 column. 



Canellacece, of which only five species are known, are natives of tropical America, with one Madagascan 

 species ; all are highly aromatic. The Oanella bark of commerce is the Wild Cinnamon of the West Indies, 

 and is a well-known carminative and stomachic ; it is exported from the Bahamas as ' White-wood bark,' 

 on account of the white appearance of the trees when stripped of the baric ; the inner layers alone are 

 used, and yield by distillation a warm aromatic oil. The bark of a Brazilian species is used as a tonic and 

 antiscorbutic; it is prescribed in low fevers, and made into a gargle is useful in eases of relaxation of the 

 tonsils. 



XXI. BIXINEJE. 



(Bixine^, Kunih. — -Bixacb^ et Cochlosperme^, Endlicher. — Flacourtiace^ et 

 Pangiace^, Lindl. — Placourtiane^, L. C. Richard, D. Glos.) 



Sepals distinct or connate, usually inibricate. Corolla polypetalous, hypogynous, 

 or 0. Stamens usually 00, hypogynous or sub-perigynoiis. Ovary free, usually 1- 

 celled, placentation parietal. Style simple, or divided to its base. Beery or capsule 

 with half-seminiferous valves. Seeds albuminous. Embryo usually straight, axile. 



' This order is omitted in the original. — Ed. 

 B 2 



