246 



XXI. BIXINEiE. 



TeibeIV. PANG-JEJE. 

 Flowers dioecious. Petals witli a scale at tlie base. 



PRINCIPAL GENERA 

 * Kiggelaria. ' rangium. Hj'dnocarpus. 



Gynocardia. 



Pangium eduie. 



entife RUd cat verticalTy (ma;g.). 



Pauc/iuni. 

 Pistil cut transversely. 



The normal Bixinece are 

 allied to Cistinece by sestiva- 

 tion, insertion of the petals, 

 polyandrj', one-celled ovary, 

 and parietal placentation ; but 

 CistineeB differ in their shorter 

 and orthotropous or sub- 

 orthotropous embryo, and 

 their usnally floury albumen. 

 Vixinece bear some relation 

 to Cajjparidece, but are sepa- 

 rated by their albuminous 

 seeds. They differ from Tiliucccs in the one-celled ovary and placentation. The oligandrous Bixine(S 

 approach Violariecc, -which are separated by their irregular corolla and connivent anthers. They also 

 approach PapayacecE, through the tribe of Pamjieai. Stxinets inhabit the tropical regions of both worlds. 

 Tlie most important cf the tribe Bixiecs is the Arnotto (Bix'a Orellana), a tropical American tree, 

 cultivated throughout the tropics ; the reddish pulp of its seeds smells of violets, and is bitter and astrin- 

 gent. A refreshing decoction is prepared from it, which is considered antifebrile, and is also used in cases 

 of hEeraorrhage, diarrhoea and gravel. The aromatic bitter seeds aind root are reputed stomachic. The 

 seeds, steeped in hot water and allowed to ferment, furnish a red dye, which by evaporation becomes a 

 solid paste, the arnotto of commerce, used largely by painters, and especia;lly dyers, as also to colour butter 

 and wax ; the Caribbeans formerly tattooed themselves with it to prevent mosquito bites. The soft wood 

 of Bixa serves as tinder to Indians, who obtain fire by rubbing together .two pieces of wood of different 

 species. ' Cochlospermum insigne, which grows in Brazil, is supposed to cure abscesses in the viscera. The 

 root of C. tinctorium, which contains a yellow dye, is useful in amenorrhcea. The gum of the East Indian 

 C Oossypmm, called Cuteera, is used as a substitute for tragacanth. The fruit of Oncoha, which 

 inhabits tropical Africa from Nubia to the Oape de Verd, yields a sweet and eatable pulp. Lcetia apetala, 

 from tropical America, secretes a balsamic resin similar to sandarac. The more or less acid juicy berries 

 of Flaoourtia cataphracta, sepiaria, sapida and inermis, Asiatic species, and of F. Bmnontchi, are eatable. 

 The bitter shoots of F. cataphracta taste like rhubarb, and are used as a tonic. The Cingalese use the 

 fruits of Ilydnocarpiis inebrians to intoxicate fish. 



