334 



DOMESTIC BOTANY. 



cuanha," is produced by Psychotria emetica^ a small tree or 

 shrub, native of Peru ; with inconspicuous flowers. 



Gambier {Nauclea Gamhir). A native of the Malayan 

 Islands : it is a slender-growing shrub, climbing by the aid 

 of abortive flower-stalks that become hard hooks. The 

 leaves are oblong, about 2 or 3 inches in length. It is cul- 

 tivated at Singapore, Sumatra, and other Malayan Islands, 

 for the sake of its leaves, from which, by process of boiling, 

 the substance called Gambier is obtained, and is used by the 

 natives for chewing with the Betel-nut. It is also made into 

 cakes, and large quantities are exported to China, as also to 

 this country, for tanning and dyeing. 



Dikamali resin is the produce of Gardenia lucida, a small 

 stiff-branched tree with oval shining leaves, native of India. 

 From the young shoots and buds a hard fragrant resin 

 exudes, having something of the properties of myrrh, which 

 is used for medicinal purposes, and, on account of its strong 

 aroma, in hospitals in India for keeping away flies and other 

 insects. . 



Considering the extent of this family there are but few 

 that produce eatable fruits of any value, the chief being Van- 

 gueria edulis, a small stiff tree with large elliptical leaves, 

 native of Mauritius; Genipa americana and G. brasiliensiSj 

 stiff-growing shrubs or small trees producing a fruit about 

 the size of an orange. The native peach of Sierra Leone, 

 Sarcocephalus esculenta, is a tree from 10 to 15 feet high, 

 bearing a fleshy fruit the size of a peach. 



The following are the principal of the family cultivated as 

 ornamental plants in the hothouses of this country. 



Cape Jasmine (Gardenia radicans and G.Jlorida), natives 

 of China, both well known for their double sweet-scented 

 white flowers, which are in great request for wedding bou- 

 quets, as well as for wearing in head-dresses. It was long 

 supposed to be a native of the Cape of Good Hope, hence the 

 name Cape Jasmine. G. longijlora, G. Stanleyana and G. 

 Mallifera, are small trees, natives of Sierra Leone, having 

 large trumpet-shaped flowers 4 to 6 inches in length. Fort- 



