S9 
CROTON TIGLIUM. 
Purging Crotoji.* 
Class MON (EC I A. --Orc?er MONADELPHIA. 
Nat. Ord. tRicocjfiE, Linn. Euphorbia, Juss. 
Gen. Char. Male. Calyx cylindrical, 5-toothed. Corolla 
of five petals. Stamens ten to fifteen. 
Female. Calyx polypliillus. Corolla O. 
Styles three, bifid. Capsule trilocular. Seed one. 
Spec. Char. Leaves ovate-acuminate, serrate, glabrous. 
Stem arboreus. 
The Croton Tiglium is indigenous to India, Ceylon, Java, 
China, and other Eastern nations. The Genus Croton contains up- 
wards of ninety species,! of which the TigUuni is the only one pos- 
sessing purgative qualities. It appears that the natives of the East 
have for centuiies past been well acquainted with the purgative effects 
of the seeds. In Europe, the seeds have been long known under the 
names of Grana Tiglii, and Grana Molucca, % and formerly prescribed 
as a drastic purge. 
This species of croton seldom exceeds the height of fifteen feet ; 
the trunk and large branches are covered with a soit bark, of a 
blackish colour, the younger branches green, with a reddish tinge ; 
the leaves are alternate, ovate-acuminate, serrated, smooth, and of 
a bright green (having two glands seated on the base), and stand on 
petioles about one-fourth their length; the flowers are in erect, 
simple terminating racemes ; the calyx, in the male flower, is cylin- 
drical, and five toothed ; the corolla is composed of five straw 
Coloured petals ; the stamina from ten to fifteen ; in the female flower, 
the calyx is divided into many obtuse segments, and reflected under 
the germen ; there is no corolla ; the styles are three and bifid ; 
the capsule is trilocular and smooth, and contains three seeds. 
Medicinal Properties and Uses. Every part of this tree 
* Fig a. represents a sprig, sliewing the racemes^ of male and female flowers. 
h. Female flower, c. Mate flower, d. Capsule, c. Seed. 
f Nineteen species are cultivated in Britain. Vide Hort. Cant. 
X Tlie name Grana Molucca, appears to be derived from the Molucca Islands, from 
whence the seeds were formerly exported into Europe. 
