LIV. ZANTHOXYLEiE. 323 



sometimes columnar [S'pir anther a), rarely depressed . (Galipea), or squamiforra, 

 unilateral (If owmerm). Carpels 2-ovuled ; festo coriaceous ; em6ri/o eialbuminous, 

 curved ; cotyledons crumpled, conyolute. — Leaves usually alternate, 1-3-foliolate. 



PEINCIPAL aENERA. 

 Monnieria. Galipea. *Erythrocliiton. Almeidea. Spiranthera. 



Diosmem cannot be separated from Ridaeece (see this family) ; the genus Bictmnnus tmites them by 

 its irregular flowers, straight embryo, 4-07uled ovarian cells, albuminous seed, herbaceous stem, and 

 imparipinnate leaves. Zanthoxylece are equally near, in their regular flowers, polypetalous hypogynous 

 imbricate isostemonous or diplostemonous corolla, free or nearly free carpels with 2-ovuled cells, often 

 elastic endocarp, straight (rarely curved) embryo, woody stem, and usually pellucid-dotted simple or com- 

 pound alternate and opposite exstipulate leaves ; they scarcely differ save in the diclinous flowers and 

 fruit, Diosmem have also some analogy with Simaruhece (see this family). 



UtidiosmecB all belong to South Africa ; Boronieee to Australia, and Cuspariea to tropical America. 

 The volatile oil and the aromatic resin of Eudiosmece are stimulating and antispasmodic, and many species 

 are thus used by the natives and colonists of the Cape. The leaves oiBarosma crenata also contain a prin- 

 ciple (diosmine), owing to which they are now admitted into European medicine as diuretics and dia- 

 phoretics, in affections of the kidneys and bladder, in rheumatism, and even cholera. The properties of 

 Boroniete are little known; in Australia the leaves of Correa are made use of as tea. In the hark of some 

 Cnspariem there is a bitter alkaloid (angusturine or cusparine), united with a soft resin and a little volatile 

 oil, which places them, after quinine, amongst the most efficacious tonics and febrifuges. According to 

 some this bark is yielded by the Gcdipea Cusparia, a large tree forming vast forests on the banks of the 

 Orinoco ; according to others, by G. officinalis, a shrub of the same country. The bark of Tioorea fehrifuga, 

 a Brazilian and Guiana tree, is also recommended as a substitute for quinine. The aromatic and acrid 

 root of Monnieria trifolia, a plant distinguished from its woody congeners by its herbaceous stem, is 

 praised in America as a diaphoretic, diuretic and alexipharmio. 



LIV. ZANTHOXYLE^, Adr. Jussieu. 

 (DiosMEARUM genera et Ptelbacb^, Kunth. — Xanthoxtlace^, Lindl.) 



rLOWBRS regular, very often polygamo-dioecious. Petals 5-4-3, imbricate or 

 valvate, inserted at the base of a free dish. Stamens inserted with the petals, equal 

 or double them in number. Carpels distinct or connate, 2-ovuled. Fruit a drupe 

 or samara, or of separate dehiscent cocci. Albumen fleshy, rarely 0. Embryo axile, 

 straight or curved. — Stem woody. Leaves exstipulate, usually glandular-dotted. 



Large or small trees or shrubs, unarmed, thorny, or aculeate. Leaves 

 alternate or opposite, rarely whorled (Pitavia, Pilocarpus), generally pinnate, or 

 imparipinnate, often 1-foliolate by suppression of tlie lateral leaflets {Zanthoxylum, 

 Evodia, &c.), usually pellucid-dotted, rarely simple {Shimmia), petiole sometimes 

 maro-ined or winged [Zanthoxylum) ; stipules 0. Flowers usually imperfect, 

 regular, axillary or terminal, mostly arranged in axillary cymes, panicles or corymbs, 

 rarely in racemes or spikes [Pilocarpus, Esenbechia), very rarely solitary [Astro- 

 phyllum). Calyx persistent or deciduous, 4-5- (rarely 3-) partite [Zanthoxylum), 

 aestivation imbricate, or rarely valvate (ilfeZawococca). .Petals inserted at the base 

 of a free disk, in a ring or cushion, sometimes inconspicuous, imbricate or valvate in 



V 2 



