460 



DOMESTIC BOTANY. 



more species represent this family, whicli are almost entirely 

 tropical. They contain resinous balsamic juices, which 

 constitute important drugs. 



Myrrh {Balsamodendron ]\hjrrha. B. Kataf^ and B. Opo- 

 halsamum). Small, rude-growing trees, natives of Arabia. 

 The first two yield Myrrh, and the last, wrongly called 

 Balm of Gilead, or Balm of Mecca, is known as Opobal- 

 samum. 



Balsomadendron Roxhurghii. A native of India, especially 

 of Scinde and the western districts. It yields a resin 

 called "Gogul." 



Balsamodendron Africanum^ a native of Eastern Africa, 

 yields what is called African Bdellium. 



These balsam-yielding plants are natives of dry rocky 

 places, some growing in limestone. The balsams are ob- 

 tained by making incisions in the stems, from which the 

 juice in some is collected as it flows, while in others it is 

 allowed to harden on the trees. Some uncertainty prevails 

 regarding the Arabian and African plants producing these 

 balsams, which is increased through the product of one 

 country being sent to another before export to Europe ; 

 Bombay is a central port of shipment. 



Olibanum {Bosivellia tliurifera, by some called B. serrata^. 

 A lofty tree, native of Central India, having the foliage 

 crowded at the extremity of the branches. It produces the 

 Ohbanum of commerce, which is obtained by incisions made 

 in the bark, when the juice exudes and becomes hardened in 

 transparent masses. When heated it is highly fragrant, and 

 is used in Greek and Eoman Catholic churches under the 

 name of frankincense.* 



In America the family is represented by large trees of 

 Idea. I. altissiTna, a native of Guiana, attains the height 



* Since the above was written, a very elaborate paper on the 

 balsam-yielding species of this family has been published by Dr. 

 Birdwood in the Linnsean Society's Transactions. 



