452 



DOMESTIC BOTANY. 



many people, who wish to account for everything naturally, 

 call it the Burning Bush of Moses. The writer has, how- 

 ever, tried the experiment, but has never succeeded in seeing 

 the flash. 



Many of this family are favourites in the greenhouses of 

 this country, such as the genera Boronia, Correal and Erio- 

 stemon of Australia, and Diosma of South Africa. 



The Quassia Family. 



(SiMARUBACEiE.) 



Large trees or shrubs with winged, rarely simple, leaves. 

 Flowers in sjDikes or racemes, some imisexual. Sepals and 

 petals 4 or 5 each. Stamens 4 to 10. Pistil 1. Fruit a 

 single 1-seeded drupe, or several seated round a receptacle, 

 forming a compound fleshy fruit. ' 



About 50 species compose this family. They are natives 

 chiefly of India, Java, and tropical America. The whole are 

 bitter and tonic, many being used medicinally in their native 

 countries. 



Quassia {Quassia amara). A small tree, native of Suri- 

 nam and Guiana, and now cultivated in the West Indies. It 

 has winged leaves, and spikes of red flowers ; its wood was 

 at one time largely imported to this country, and on account 

 of its bitterness was used as a substitute for hoj)s, but has 

 now been superseded by the bitter wood of Jamaica, Picrasma 

 or Picrcsna excelsa, the Quassia wood of the shops, which is 

 so bitter that cups made of it impart bitterness to water 

 allowed to remain some time in them ; hence the " Bitter 

 Cup." An infusion of Quassia chips is found destructive to 

 fl.ies. It was once in high repute for its efiicacy in fevers, 

 but is now seldom used. 



Simaruba Bark (Simaruba amara). A tree, native of the 

 West Indies and Guiana, attaining the height of 20 feet. 

 It has crooked branches ; the bark is extremely bitter, 

 and is used in the form of a decoction for many com- 

 plaints. 



