484 



DOMESTIC BOTANY. 



Catha edulis. This is probably the most important plant 

 of the family. It is a shrub 10 feet or more in height, with 

 rusty coloured leaves, not unlike those of the strawberry 

 tree. It is a native of Arabia, where it is extensively culti- 

 vated for its leaves, which have properties similar to those of 

 tea and coffee, and have been used by, the Arabs as such from 

 time immemorial, under the name of Kat. It forms a consi- 

 derable article of commerce, being brought from the interior 

 to Aden in bundles 12 or 15 inches long, consisting of about 

 40 twigs tied together. It is either used in a decoction or 

 chewed, its effects being very stimulating, producing great 

 hilarity of spirits. The quantity brought to Aden alone is 

 nearly three hundred camel loads per year, and it there re- 

 presents the Paraguay tea of South America. 



One of the largest trees of the family is ElcBodendron in- 

 tegrifolia^ a native of the forests of Pegu. It has white- 

 coloured wood, well adapted for cabinet-work, as is also 

 that of E. australe, a native of New South Wales. 



A small family has been separated from the preceding, 

 under the name of Staj^ht/Ieacecs, Bladder-nut family. It 

 consists of about 12 species. SmaU trees or shrubs, with 

 opposite winged leaves, and flowers in terminal racemes. 

 They are all widely dispersed over both hemispheres, Sta- 

 phylea pinnata being a native of England, and S. trifoliata 

 of North America. The seeds of Bladder-nut are oily and 

 purgative. 



(Brexiace^.) 



A small family consisting of about 6 species of smaU, 

 slender, almost unbranched trees, having firm, glossy, long 

 linear, alternate leaves, with entire or spiny margins. 

 Flowers axillary, in umbel clusters, of a greenish colour, 

 and firm in texture. Calyx, petals, and stamens 5 seated 

 on a disk. Pistil simple. Fruit a drupe. 



The best known species are Brexia Madagascarensis, which 

 varies in its leaves being smooth or spiny, the latter being 

 well known as B. spinosa. Ixerha hrexioides is a small tree, 



