THE BARBADOES CHERRY FAMILY. 469 



wild state, and cultivated in many parts of New Grenada and 

 Bolivia, for the sake of its leaves, which are of a stimulating 

 nature. It attains the height of 6 to 8 feet, and is similar in 

 appearance to the Tea tree. There are two varieties, the 

 broad and narrow leaved, the latter being the more highly 

 prized. The leaves are picked and scorched in an earthen- 

 ware pan, and, after being dried, are ready for use. It is in 

 general use by the Indians, both men and women, who, after 

 partaking of their morning meal, stuff a loose handful of 

 leaves into their mouths, with a little calcined lime ; a 

 few fresh leaves are constantly added during the day, the 

 cheek assuming the appearance of being swollen ; this, with- 

 out any other food, enables them to perform a hard day's 

 work. The Indians who chew this appear to become some- 

 what corpulent ; their eyes assume a glassy appearance, and 

 their features have a languid expression of dreamy compla- 

 cency. It is not ascertained whether its excessive use shortens 

 life, but aged Indians have been seen sitting quietly chewing 

 Coca. Its effects are similar to those of opium. 



The Barbadoes Cherry Family. 



(Malpighiace^e.) 



Trees or shrubs, many of them twining climbers. Leaves 

 generally opposite, or more in a whorl, glossy, and shining, 

 entire, with glands on their petioles. Many furnished with 

 stiff hairs attached by their centre, and lying flat on the sur- 

 face of the leaf Stipules small or large. Flowers solitary, 

 in spikes or racemes, generally yellow and showy. Calyx 5 

 parted with glands at the base. Petals 5. Stamens 5 or 10, 

 free or united. Styles 3 or 5. Fruit drupe-like and angular, 

 or dry and winged. 



This family consists of about 600 species, widely distri- 

 buted throughout the tropical and subtropical regions, the 

 greater part being natives of America. The climbing portion 

 abound in Brazil, interlacing the trees of the forest and trail- 

 ing over rocky places. 



