ZYGOPHYLLACEjE. 203 



that of the Picrcena, just described, though as then stated, there is much 

 reason to believe that they are of a higher order, and may possess the medi- 

 cinal powers ascribed to them by all writers, at the commencement of the 

 last century. Be this as it may, it is certain that the Quassia, as now found 

 in commerce, is very far from possessing the efficacy formerly attributed to 

 it, being merely a simple tonic of very little superior virtue than Sabbatia or 

 Anthemis. 



Besides the plants already noticed, several others of the order are possessed 

 of much the same qualities. The Nima quassioides is employed as a bitter 

 tonic in the north of India, and the Samadera indica furnishes the Niepa 

 bark, which is in some esteem as a febrifuge. The Brucea antidysenterica, 

 erroneously supposed to be the origin of the false Angustura bark, is spoken of by 

 Bruce {Append, to Trav.) as of much utility in dysentery, and the B. suma- 

 trana is thought by Dr. Roxburgh to possess the same remedial qualities ; 

 he states that the bark is foetid and intensely bitter. There is another plant 

 noticed by Horsefield, under its Javanese name of Franolot, which appears 

 to be a species of this genus ; it has the same properties, and has been admi- 

 nistered with much advantage. 



Order 34.— ZYGOPHYLLACEiE.— Lindley. 



Flowers regular. Sepals 5, distinct, or scarcely cohering at base. Petals as many as, 

 and alternate with the sepals ; unguiculate, inserted on the receptacle. Stamens twice 

 as many as the petals, hypogynous. Anthers fixed near their middle. Ovary of 4 — 5 

 united carpels, surrounded at base with 5 scales or a sinuate disk. Styles five, united 

 into one. Fruit a capsule of 5 carpels, 4 — 5-seeded, dehiscent at the superior angle. Seeds 

 albuminous or exalbuminous. Albumen cartilaginous or horny. Embryo green, straight. 

 Cotyledons foliaceous. 



This small order is composed of trees, shrubs, and herbs, whose branches 

 are mostly articulated at the nodes, and whose leaves are usually compound, 

 opposite, having stipules at their base, and not dotted. The species are prin- 

 cipally natives of warm climates; and but few of them are possessed of medi- 

 cinal qualities, but some are endowed with no inconsiderable powers. Besides 

 the Guaiacums, several others of the order have attracted attention ; the Zy- 

 gophyllum fabago, a native of Egypt, is said to be vermifuge, and Gmelin 

 states that its unexpanded flower-buds are used like capers at Astracan. The 

 juice of the Z. simplex is employed by the Arabs as a cosmetic (Encyc. Bot. 

 ii. 441). The Hottentots are of opinion that the Z. herhaceum and Z. sessi- 

 lifolium are poisonous to sheep (Thunberg). In Turkey, the seeds of Pega- 

 num harmala are used as spices and for dyeing red. The flowers of Meli- 

 anthus major secrete so much honey, that on shaking the tree, it falls in a 

 shower, and the Porlinia hygrometrica possesses qualities analogous to 

 Guaiacum. 



Guaiacum. — Linn. 



Sepals 5, obtuse, unequal. Petals 5, equal. Stamens 10. Filaments naked. Style 

 and stigma united. Capsule angled, 2 — 5-celled. Leaves abruptly pinnate. 



The name of this small South American genus is derived from the Spanish 

 word Guayaco, a corruption in turn of the Mexican appellation, Hoaxacan. 

 The species are few and are trees of some size, having a heavy, dense wood, 

 well known in commerce under the name of Lignum vifxe. They are all 

 resinous, and possessed of stimulating properties. 



