F A B A C E M. 239 



mountains, not appearing to be indigenous to the north of Pennsylvania or 

 near the sea coast in the Southern States. This well-known tree has not re- 

 ceived the attention it deserves ; for, although highly esteemed for the valu- 

 able properties of its wood, which from its durability is extensively used for 

 tree-nails in ship building, and for posts ; this is generally considered to be 

 the extent of its usefulness, but such is far from being the case, as almost every 

 portion of it is endowed with some good quality. 



The leaves, 'when prepared in the same manner as those of the Indigo 

 plant, may be advantageously used as a substitute for them ; they also afford 

 an excellent nourishment for cattle, either in a fresh or dried state. (Willich. 

 JDom. Ency. i. 10.) The flowers possess antispasmodic properties, and fur- 

 nish a very agreeable syrup ; and an excellent liqueur has also been prepared 

 from them. (Bonafous, Ann. Hort. ix. 168.) It has also been asserted by 

 Grosier (Descrip. de la Chine, i. 507), that they are used by the Chinese to 

 produce the beautiful yellow so remarkable in their silks by the following 

 process : half a pound of the flowers not fully expanded, are roasted over 

 a gentle fire, in a copper pan, stirring them continually; when they turn yel- 

 low, some water is poured on them, and boiled till it acquires a deep colour; 

 it is then strained, and half an ounce of alum and an ounce of shell lime 

 added, when the dye is fit for use. The author has perhaps mistaken the 

 plant for the R.jlava, as it appears strange that a white flower should fur- 

 nish a bright yellow dye. Merat and De Lens (Diet. Univ. Mat. Med. vi. 

 101), likewise state that these flowers furnish a palatable dish, when fried. 

 The seeds are somewhat acrid, but furnish a large quantity of oil on expres- 

 sion ; by infusion in water, they become perfectly mild, and afford an excel- 

 lent farina. The inner bark is fibrous, and capable of being spun. 



Medical Uses, fyc. — The bark of the root is sweetish, but cathartic and 

 emetic, and is used in some parts of the country in domestic practice. From 

 a case recorded by Dr. Gendron (Ann. Clin. Montp. xxiv. 68), of some 

 boys who had chewed some of the bark and swallowed the juice, it would 

 appear that it also possesses some acro-narcotic properties, as, besides vomit- 

 ing, they were affected with coma and slight convulsions. 



Several other species have likewise been used medicinally. The root of R. 

 amara is a powerful bitter, and is prescribed in China in diarrhoea and obstruc- 

 tions of the mesentery and uterus; and that of the R.jlava is employed in the 

 same country as a febrifuge. (Loureiro, Flor. Cochin, ii. 556.) Humboldt 

 and Bonpland state that the powdered bark of the R. maculata is employed 

 in Campeachy as a poison for rats and mice. (Nov. Gen. vi. 395.) 



Astragalus. — Linn. 



Calyx 5-toothed. Corolla with an obtuse carina. Stamens diadelphous. Legumes 

 gibbous, of two longitudinal cells, or half cells; lower suture inflexed. 



This very extensive genus is composed of suffruticose or herbaceous plants, 

 having pinnate leaves, furnished with stipules, either distinct from, or con- 

 nected with, the petiole ; and in one division or sub-genus, the Tragacanthi, 

 with these petioles rigidly persistent, forming spines. The flowers are glo- 

 merate or spiked, and axillary or terminal. The greater portion of them are 

 natives of Asia. 



Most of the spinous species furnish a peculiar exudation, known under the 

 name of Gum tragacanth ; this is more particularly the case with those found 

 in warm regions ; and it is highly probable, that under the same circum- 

 stances, the whole of them would afford a similar product. This supposition 

 is strengthened by a number of analogous instances ; thus, the Manna Ash 

 exudes its peculiar juice in Sicily and Calabria, but in more northern parts is 



