610 



CLXX. MYOPOEINE^. 



Sesamece are very near Bignoniaoece (which see) ; they are connected with Gesneracets through 

 Craniolaria and Martynia, and are further connected with VerhenacMB and Myoporinece (which see). 



This family inhabits the tropics of both worlds and South Africa. Few of the species are useful. 

 The seeds of Sesamum orientale and S. indiciim yield a bland oil, used by Orientals as food, medicine, and 

 as a cosmetic, called Sesamum or Gingilie oil. The cultivation of these plants, which was spread for ages 

 over Asia and Africa, now extends to the New World. The importation of Sesamum seeds into France 

 amounted in 1855 to sixty millions of kilogrammes (58,940 tons) ; the oil extracted from them is princi- 

 pally used in the manufacture of soap. Pedalium Murex exhales a strong musky odour, and the thick 

 juice contained in its vesicular glands is employed in India to giro a mucilaginous consistency to water, 

 and thus render it emollient. The Creoles of America eat the raw root of Craniolaria annua with sugar ; 

 it is fleshy and mild-tasted, and when dried is employed in preparing a bitter and cooling drink. [The 

 curious 2-horned fruit of Martynia proboscidea is the Testa di Quaglia of the Italians, notorious for 

 its cleaving to clothes, &c.; Uncaria procumbens is the famous Grapple-plant of South Africa, the fruit of 

 which is dispersed by animals to whose fur its hooked horns enable it to cling.] 



CLXX. MYOPORINE^, 



(Mtopohin^, Br.— Mtoporine^, Jussieu, — Mtopokaoe^, Lindl.) 



Mioporum parviflorum. 



Myoporum* 

 Fruit cut vertically (mag.). 



Myoporum, 

 Fruit cut transvereely. 



Myoporum. 



Sfed, entire and cnt 



Tcrtically (mag.). 



