372 LXXV. LEGUMINOS^. 



The extensive famil}' of Legmninosm is closely allied to Amyydakce (see tliis family). Mimosece 

 obviously, as M. Planclion has demonstrated, approach O.validei^, in which, as in many Mimosece, the 

 corolla is diplostemonous, the stamens monadelphous, the ovules anatropous, the embryo albuminous and 

 straight, the seeds aiillate, and the leaves alternate, compound and irritable : but the calyx of Oxalidece is 

 imbricate, the ovary 5-celled, the leaves are exstipulate, and the sten^ is generally herbaceous (except in 

 the genus Averrhoa). PapiliotwcecB are also near TereUnthacece, which resemble them in habit, their 

 alternate often compound leaves, perigyuous stamens, often solitary ovary, campylotropous ovule, and 

 exalbuminous embryo; but which differ in their regular flower, free stamens, usually fleshy fruit, and 

 exstipulate leaves; but here again the affinity is re-established by some Ccesalpinece {Ceratonia), which 

 are apetalous and dicecious, like many Terehinthacece, and the flower of which is sub-regular, and the 

 stamens nearly free. 



Mimosece abound in the tropical zone ; they are rare in the sub-tropical regions of the northern 

 bemisphere, and are especially numerous iu Africa and Australia. Tropical America produces a great 

 number of species, belonging to the group of huja. 



Swai-tzieee inhabit iutertropical Ameiica and Africa*; none have yet been met with in Asia. Vapilio- 

 nacece are found in all climates, but they mostly grow between and near the tropics, and in the Old World 

 more than in the New. Some Astrayali ascend the highest mountains. Ccesalpinece are numerous 

 in tropical regions; they scarcely pass the tropic in the Old World, and are ratlier rare in North 

 America. 



The order Leguminosce is extremely serviceable to mankind ; the farinaceous seeds of Papilionacece 

 are very nutritious, whilst their herbage forms an excellent fodder. LeymninoscB also yield more 

 substances used in medicine and the arts than any other order in the A'egetable Kingdom. >\"e will 

 enumerate the most important species, in their botanical order, and notice, in passing, certain noxious 



ones. 



Albizda anthelminthica, an Abyssinian tree, the bark of which is employed against taenia. 



Acacia vera and arabica, North-east African, Arabian, and Indian trees, produce gum arable. A. I'erek, 

 Segal, and Adansonii, Senegambian trees, produce gum Senegal, .used similarly to gum arable. A 

 decoction of the wood of the Indian A. Catechu yields Catechu, a thick juice, soluble in water, which 

 is an astringent tonic. 



Adenanthera pavonina, an Indian tree, of whose hard red seeds, named Kuara, necklaces and bracelets 



are made. 

 ' " \Deiai-ium Senegalensc, a Senegambian tree, yields an edible drupe. 



I Swarlzia tomentosa is a tropical American tree with a resinous sudoriiic bark. 

 Ceratonia Siliqua (Ciwoh). A tree of the Mediterranean region, whose lonientaceous fruit contains 

 a russet insipid edible pulp, serving as forage in Spain [and extensively imported into England for cattle 



food]. 



Co])aifera officinalis, coriacea, cordifolia, &c. Trees of tropical America, yielding by incision of the 

 trunk a turpentine called Balsam of Copaiba, used in catarrhal affections. 



HymencBa cerracosa. A Madagascar tree, yielding a yellow resin named cojjal, which is insoluble 

 in alcohol, but soluble after fusion in linseed oil, and then in essence of turpentine, and is much used as a 

 varnish. 



Aloexvlon Ayallochum. A tree of Cochin China, whose veined resinous aromatic wood, called Aloe- 

 wood, burns with a fragrant flame. 



Cassia ohooata, acutifolia, lanceolata, &c., the Sennas, are plants of Upper Egypt, Syria, Arabia, India, 

 and Senegal, the leaves of which contain an active purgative principle, much used in medicine ; their 

 flattened pods are much weaker purgatives. C. Jlstida, an Indian tree, bears a woody indehiscent 

 septate pod, named Cassia, the cells of which contain a sugary laxative black ptilp. The seeds of C. 

 Ahsin are used in Egypt to cure chronic ophthalmia. 



Tamarindus indha. A tree of India, West Asia, and Egypt, whose pulpy, acid, and sugary pods, 

 called Tamarinds, are used in medicine. 



Hcematoxylon campecldanum, a Central American and West Indian tree, affords Logwood, which 

 contains a colouring principle (hematinc), much used iu dyeing black or dark red. 



Ccesalinuia echinata, a Brazilian tree^ yields Brazil-wood, containing a red colouring principle (brasiline). 



