19 
and the seeds contain a highly acrid principle fatal to insects, on which account 
the natives of India use them powdered and mixed with the flour of Gram, or 
Cicer urietimm, for occasionally washing their hair. Royle. Xylopia sericea, 
a large tree found in forests near Rio Janeiro, where it is called Pinddiha, bears 
a highly aromatic fruit, with the flavour of pepper, for which it may be advan- 
tageously substituted. Its bark is tough, and readily separated into fibres, 
from which excellent cordage is manufactured. Plantes Usuelles, no. 33. 
Blume remarks that the Javanese species require, notwithstanding their 
powerful properties, to be employed with caution ; for if they are administered 
for too great a length of time, or in too large doses, they produce vertigo, 
haemorrhage, or even abortion, in pregnant women. The carpels are chewed 
after dinner in Java for dispelling flatulence. (See Blume.) Of some species 
the fruit is succulent and eatable, containing a sugary mucilage, which pre- 
dominates over the slight aromatic flavour that they produce. Of this kind are 
the Custard Apples of the East and West Indies, the Cherimoyer of Peru, and 
others. In Asimina triloba an acid is present of a very active nature, accord- 
ing to Duhamel ; but this is not certain. Tlie Anona sylvatica, called Araticu 
do mato, in Brazil, has a light white wood, very fit for the use of turners, and 
for the same pui*poses as the lime-tree of Europe. Its fniit is described as 
good for the dessert. Plantes Usuelles, 29. The wood of the root of 
A. palustris is employed in Brazil for corks. Ib. 30. The Indians on the 
Orinoco, particularly in Atures and Maypura, have an excellent febrifuge, 
called Frutta de Burro, which is the fruit of Uvaria febrifuga. Humboldt, Cinch. 
Forests, p. 22. Eng. ed. 
GENERA. 
Anona, h. Unona, L. 
Rollinia, A. St. H. Bulliarda, Neck. 
Lobocarpus, W. et A. Krockeria, Neck. 
Monodora, Dun. Desmos, Lour. 
Uvaria, L. Melodorum, Lour. 
Asimina, Adans. Marenteria, Nor. 
Orchidocarpum, Mx. Artabotrys, R. Br. 
Porcelia, R. et P. Habzelia, A. DC. 
Mitraphora, Bl. 
Blume distinguishes 
Coelocline, A.DC. 
Xylopia, L. 
Anaxagorea, A. St. H 
Hexalobus, A.DC. 
Miliusa, A.DC. 
Orophea, Bl. 
Bocagea, A. St. H. 
Trigynaea, Schlecht, 
Polyalthia, Bl. 
Duguetia, A. St. H. 
Guatteria, R. P. 
Aberemoa, Aubl. 
Cananga, Aubl. 
Hentschelia, Presl. 
Hyalostemma,Wall. (2) 
Eupomatia, R. Br. 
SCHIZANDRE^ 
From Anonaceae and some other orders in the following manner. They 
differ fi'om Magnoliaceae in their unisexual flowers, and in the form of their 
stamens, which in Magnoliaceae are never monadelphous ; moreover the different 
nature of the vegetation and the diflerent properties form a great distinction 
between the two orders. For Magnoliaceae are erect trees or shrubs with gem- 
maceous stipules and entire leaves, and bitter aromatic properties, while on 
the other hand Schizandreae are trailing shrubs, destitute of stipules and con- 
stantly having toothed leaves, and have no aromatic or bitter proper- 
ties, but abound in vegetable mucus. In this last property and their toothed 
leaves they diflnr from Anonaceae, which approach them in the want of stipules 
and in their occasional sarmentose habit ; Schizandreae difier moreover from 
Anonaceae, 1st, in the less constant number of the floral envelopes ; 2nd, in 
their stamens usually combined ; and 3rd, in their even, not mminated, albu- 
men. (FI. Jav.J 
It is highly probable that they do in fact form a peculiar order, allied most 
nearly to Arionaceae, but also exhibiting a manifest tendency to the monadel- 
phous unisexual structure of Myristicaceae, Their supposed resemblance to 
Menispermaceae, of which mention is made by authors, is of a very slight na- 
ture. 
