470 



DOMESTIC BOTANY. 



Malpighia glabra and M. punicifoUa, have pulpy furrowed 

 fruits, about the size of cherries, which are eaten, and being 

 originally found in Barbadoes, are called Barbadoes Cherries. 

 They are common throughout the West Indies. 



Several species of Malpighia, Hiptage, Banisteria, Hete- 

 ropteris, Galphimia, and others, are common in hothouses in 

 the botanic gardens in this country, most of them being 

 creepers, growing to a great length, with showy flowers. In 

 Malpighia urens, and several other species, the leaves are 

 covered with stiff shining hairs, lying horizontal on their 

 surface, forming a kind of web. These hairs are very irri- 

 tating and dangerous, often causing unpleasant consequences. 



The genus Nitraria is by some botanists placed in Mal- 

 pighiacece, while others consider it as the type of a distinct 

 family. Three species have been noticed, but they are pro- 

 bably only different forms of one, N. Schoheri, a stiff, rigid, 

 thorny shrub, with thick, fleshy leaves, the whole of a for- 

 bidding aspect, inhabiting salt plains and desert .places in 

 Siberia, around the Caspian, in Western Asia, and in some parts 

 of North Africa. It has white flowers, and produces a small 

 red fruit like the Barberry, which is juicy and refreshing to 

 travellers in the desert. 



(VOCHYACE^.) 



This family consists of about 50 large trees and shrubs, 

 with opposite branches, which when young are four-sided ; 

 opposite, entire leaves, with glands at their base, and flowers 

 in terminal racemes or panicles. Their timber is of use, the 

 most important being Copai-ye Wood ( Vochysia Gtiianensis), 

 a tree from 50 to 60 feet high, and from 2 to 2^ feet in dia- 

 meter. The wood is not very durable, but is used for 

 making staves for sugar-hogsheads, boat-oars, &c. 



