GUTTIFERZE. 
139 
1. Moronobea coccinea. Hog Gum-tree. 
Bud globose, style very short, leaves oblong acute 
at both ends coriaceous impunctate. 
Symplionia globulifera, Willd. Sp. III. 585. — Moronobea 
coccinea, Aubl. Gui . II. 789. t. 313. — Bancroft, MSS. 
HAB. Damp mountain forests, St George’s and Portland. 
FTj. October; or May. 
A lofty tree, attaining 90-100 feet in height, with the stem 
straight and erect, and the branches horizontally spreading ; 
branch! ets opposite, terete, glabrous. Leaves opposite, petio- 
late, oblong, acute at the base, acuminate at the apex, entire, 
coriaceous, transversely and parallelly nerved, glabrous, im- 
punctate, 3-4 inches long, and broad. Umbel subterminal, 
simple, about 10-flovvered : flowers scarlet, on short terete 
pedicels. Calycine sepals 5, rounded, imbricated. Petals 5, 
many times larger than the sepals, roundish, concave. Stamens 
united at the base, pentadelphous above, with each fasciculus 
consisting of 3 filaments, and bearing 3 anthers on the middle 
of their outer surface : anthers 2-celled, linear. Ovary ovate, 
5-celled : cells 2-seeded : style 1 : stigmata 5, radiato-divari- 
cating. Fruit with the pericarp coriaceous; by abortion, 1- 
celled, and 1- seeded. 
The Hog-Gum was erroneously stated by Sloane, to be ob- 
tained from the Rhus Metopium ; and in this be has been fol- 
lowed by Browne, and other writers on Jamaica Botany. It is 
only, however, procured from the tree before us, by wounding 
the bark. The Gum which exudes, is at first fluid and pellucid, 
but afterwards changes to a yellow colour, and becomes hard 
and friable, resembling Burgundy pitch in appearance. It has 
a slight aromatic odour, is insipid to the taste, softens under 
the teeth, and melts to the flame of a candle. It receives in 
South America the name of Mani or Manil. It is known with 
us by that of the Hog-Gum, and the tree is called the Hog- 
Gum, or llog-Doctor Tree , from the Hogs, it is stated, when 
wounded, resorting to it, and rubbing the injured part against 
the bark, so as to smear the wound with the gum. It has 
been given internally, in the form of pills, as a substitute 
for Balsam of Copaiba. t Two table-spoonfuls of the recent 
juice, diluted with water, and sweetened, is stated by Barham, 
to give relief in belly-ache or colic. Mixed with lard, wax, 
and rosin, it forms an ointment, well adapted as a dressing 
for indolent sores. Spread on leather, it is employed in plas- 
ters, as a substitute for Burgundy pitch. The Indians of the 
Continent make torches with it, which give a good light without 
much smoke or smell ; and employ it to pitch the outside of their 
boats, and to fix on a head of fish-bone to their arrows. This 
tree is a native of the Continent, as well as of Jamaica, Triiii- 
