OXLVI. LOGANIACEJ]. 557 



Teibe I. ANTONiEa). — Ovules numerous in the ovarian cells. Seeds winged. Antoriia, 

 listeria, &c. 



Teibe II. Euloganiej!. — Ovules numerous in the ovarian cells. Fruit capsular. Seeds 

 naked or hardly winged. Spigelia, Mitreola, Mistrasaame, Logania, Nuxia, Buddleia. 



Teibe III. 'Fagumem. — Ovules numerous in the ovarian cells. Fruit a berry. JDesfontamea, 

 Fagrcea, Strychnos, &o. 



Teibe IV. G^RTNEEBiE. — Ovules solitary, rarely geminate in the ovarian cells. Gardneria, 

 Ocertnera, &c.] 



Loganiacece are very closely allied to Ruhiacece (see this family). They approach Gentianecs in the 

 opposite and entire leaves, the insertion, aestivation and isostemony of the corolla, the capsular fruit, and 

 the presence of albumen ; hut Oentianem differ in the 1- or incompletely 2-celled ovary, anatropous ovules 

 and exstipulate leaves. The affinities and differences are the same in ApocynecB, whose fruit, like that of 

 Loganiacets, is a capsule, berry, or drupe ; but they are distinguished by their milky juice, the always 

 isostemonous corolla, and numerous genera with free carpels. The little group of Desfontainece also 

 approaches Zo^amaeeje, of which it has nearly all the characters; hut its sestivation ia contorted, the 

 placentation is parietal, and the leaves are always exstipulate. Loganiaoe<B are scattered over the tropical 

 regions of Asia, Africa and America, and extra-tropical Australia. 



Most liOganiacecB have a very bitter juice. The species of Strychnos contain in the bark of their root 

 and in their seeds two alkaloids (strychnine and brucme), combined with a peculiar acid {igasuric acid), 

 principles which are extremely energetic ; their action on the nervous system is most powerful, whether 

 as invaluable medicines or as mortal poisons. A decoction of the root of S. Tieute is the tjetteh, with 

 which the Javanese poison their arrows ; and which, when taken internally, also acts as a poison, but less 

 rapidly than when absorbed through the veins. The natives of South America also use two species of 

 Strychnos to poison their arrows; this poison, called curare, is prepared by mixing the juice of the bark 

 with pepper, the Indian berry, and other acrid plants, and is preserved in little vases of baked earth. It 

 is supposed that the curare acts as a ppison only through the blood, and that it may be swallowed with- 

 out inconvenience ; it is certain that chemists have found no alkaloid in it. The seeds of S. N^ix vomica 

 act as a powerful excitant of the .spinal cord and nerves, and stimulate the functions of the organs of volun- 

 tary motion, in cases of paralysis which do not proceed from injury 'to the brain, for which the seed itself, 

 or an extract, or its alkaloid, strychnine, are employed. Spigelia anthelmintica, an American plant, very 

 poisonous in its fresh state, is innocuous when dry, and is a successful vermifuge. >S. marylandica is a 

 less active but also useful vermifuge. [Strychnos pseudo-quina is k reputed Brazilian febrifuge, and 

 yields Copalche bark. S. Ignatia yields the Ignatius Bean of India, used as a remedy for cholera. S. 

 potatorum yields the celebrated Clearing Nut of India, which clarifies foul water when this is put in a 

 vessel of which the inside has Ijeen rubbed with it.] 



