CINCHONACEiE. 381 



U. gambir, Roxburgh. — Branches terete. Leaves ovate-lanceolate, acute, smooth on 

 both sides, petioles short, with ovate stipules. Peduncles axillary, solitary, opposite, with 

 bracteoles near the middle ; lower ones sterile. 



Roxburgh, Fl. Ind. i. 517 ; De Candolle, Prod. iv. 347 ; Lindley, Flor. 

 Med. 405 ; Pereira, Mat. Med. ii. 468 ; Nauclea gambir, Hunter, Trans. 

 Linn. Soc. ix. t. 22 ; Funis uncatus, Rumphius, Herb. Ambcin. v. t. 34. 



Description. — Leaves opposite, from ovate-oblong to ovate-lanceolate, entire, acute, 

 smooth on both sides ; petioles short, with oblong-ovate stipules, uniting the upper margin 

 of their base. Spines axillary, solitary, or in opposite pairs, simple, recurved, hooked. 

 Peduncles axillary, solitary, jointed and bracteolated about the middle, supporting a 

 single globular head of green and pink flowers. The bracts form a 3 — 4-clefl, circular 

 involucre. Calyx silky on the outside, with a 5-cleft limb. Tube of the corolla filiform ; 

 limb of 5 obtuse divisions, villous externally, and hairy at the centre internally. Fila- 

 ments short. Anthers large, at the mouth of the tube. Ovary turbinate, sub-sessile, 

 sericeous, supporting a style as long as the tube of the corolla, having a clavate stigma. 

 Capsules pedicellate, clavate, longitudinally grooved, crowned by the persistent calyx; 

 2-celled, 2-valved. Seeds numerous, imbricated, winged. 



Inhabits the islands of the Indian Archipelago, and is largely cultivated 

 in many places. A decoction of the leaves of this plant inspissated and 

 dried by heat, affords an article called Gambir in the East Indies, and Terra 

 japonica in Europe, where it is largely imported for tanning. This product 

 is a species of Catechu, and is designated as Catechu in square cakes by 

 druggists. There are, however, several forms or varieties of it noticed by 

 Mr. Bennett, {Med. fy Fhys. Journ. Ixvii.) One, in small round cakes, of a 

 pale purplish-white colour, which is considered the best. The second in 

 squares, which is that usually imported ; this is in cubes of about an inch 

 square, lighter than water, of a yellowish-brown or deep reddish-brown 

 colour exteriorly, and of a yellowish cinnamon-brown within ; the fracture 

 is dull and earthy; it has scarcely any odour; its taste astringent and bitter, 

 with finally a sweetish flavour; it melts readily in the mouth. The third is in 

 cylindrical pieces, of a pale, dull, pinkish-yellow colour internally, and some- 

 what darker on the outer surface ; it is heavier than water, and is less astrin- 

 gent in its taste than the other kinds ; it feels gritty when chewed. These 

 varieties may not all be the product of the Uncaria, as Crawford [Indian 

 Archipelago) says, Gambir is produced from two different plants, but usually 

 from the Funis uncatus of Rumphius. 



Medical Uses, SfC. — Gambir has all the properties of Catechu, and is used 

 for it, in the cases to which that article is applicable. 



Numerous other plants of this extensive order have been used in medicine, 

 among which the following are deserving of a brief notice. According to 

 Martius (Specim. Mat. Med. Bras.), the root of Manettia cordifolia is em- 

 ployed in Brazil as an emetic, and is also held in much esteem in dysentery, 

 in doses of about thirty grains to a drachm. The fruit of Randia dume- 

 torum, when bruised and thrown into the water, will intoxicate fish. It is 

 considered by Hindoo physicians as one of their best emetics, for which the 

 whole nut is pounded. An infusion of the bark of the root is prescribed to 

 produce nausea in bowel complaints (Ainslie, Mat. Ind. ii. 186). The fruit 

 of Gardenia grandiflora is thought in India to be cathartic and anthelmintic 

 (Roxburgh, Fl. Ind. i. 170). The bark of Condaminea corymbosa is tonic 

 and febrifuge ; it is only slightly bitter, but somewhat viscid. Ruiz and 

 Pavon (Fl. Peruv. ii. 48), say that it is used by the bark-gatherers in Peru, 

 to adulterate Cinchona. 



