THE MYKOBALAN FAMILY. 



395 



nal (some unisexual). Petals 4 or 5, or absent. Stamens 

 8 to 10 or more, generally longer than tlie petals. Pistil 

 simple. Fruit a fleshy drupe, or dry and winged, containing 

 an Almond-like kernel. 



This family, of which there are about 200 species, are 

 wholly confined to the Tropics. They have no special medi- 

 cinal qualities, but are of an astringent nature. 



Pentaptera glabra. A tree, native of Pegu and other 

 parts of India, attaining the height of 60 to 80 feet, and it 

 is said 6 to 8 feet in diameter. The wood is hard and 

 durable, and is employed, like teak, for shipbuilding. A kind 

 of lime is obtained by calcining the bark and wood, which is 

 preferred to other lime for chewing with the Betel nut. 



Myrobalans are the fruit of Terminalia Chehula and 

 T. Bellerica. They are large trees, natives of India, charac- 

 terized by having narrow lance-like leaves growing in tufts 

 on the top of the branches, with elliptical fruit from 1 to 2 

 inches in diameter, slightly angular, colour of a greenish, 

 yellow, and when dried of a brownish black. They are used 

 for tanning and dyeing black, and at least 2000 tons or more 

 have been known to be imported to this country yearly. 

 The fruit of T. Catappa has kernels like an Almond, and 

 is eatable. 



The genera Combretum, Foivrea, and others contain a 

 number of species, with hard-wooded climbing stems, which 

 branch and extend to a great length, many of them having 

 showy flowers. About 14 species have been cultivated at 

 Kew, the most splendid being Poivrea coccinea^ a native of 

 Madagascar, having large racemes of scarlet flowers. 



Combretum guayca. A native of the countries on the 

 Orinoco. It is a strong climber, and is remarkable for 

 containing a great quantity of gummy matter, which exudes 

 in abundance on the bark being cut, and is used by the car- 

 penters of Angostura for the same purpose as animal glue. 

 Another species is C. butyrosum^ a native of South East Africa, 

 producing a peculiar substance like butter, called by the 

 Caffres, Chignite ; it is white and hard, somewhat aromatic, 



