86 
Ivgala ; the ascending direction of the style and a cohesion of stamens are 
characters common to both orders. Many additional observations are made 
by St. Hilaire and Moquin-Tandon to the same effect. These authors, more- 
over, compare this order with Rutaceae ; but they appear to have finally decided 
upon the vicinity of Sapindaceae being its true position ; remarking that “ the 
calyx of Sapindaceae is unequal, the corolla very irregular, and the ovary of 
Schmidelia is usually 2-celled and 2-seeded like that of Polygala. Moreover, 
the gi'eater part of the genera of that order have, with a calyx of five divisions, 
a corolla with four pet^s, and the place of the fifth is manifestly vacant. This 
suppression is not exactly the same as what is observed in the coroUa of Poly- 
gala, where there is only 3 petals with 5 sepals ; but the suppression has more 
analogy with what concerns the stamens, since with a quinary number in 
the calyx each order has eight antheriferous filaments.” 
Geography. Most of the genera are limited to one or two of the five 
parts of the globe ; thus Salomonia is only found in Asia, Soulamea in the 
Moluccas, Muraltia at the Cape of Good Hope, and Monnina and Badiera in 
South America. Comesperma is found both in Brazil and New Holland, and, 
what is very remarkable, there is in the former comitry a species of the Cape 
genus Mundia. Polygala itself is found in four of the five parts ; under the torrid 
zone and in temperate climates, at Cayenne, and on the mountains of S^vitzer- 
land ; it is, however, very unequally ^stributed. This genus inhabits almost 
every description of station, — d^ plains, deep morasses, woods, mountains, 
cultivated and barren soils. Comesperma is only known in Brazilian woods, 
and Monnina and Krameria in open places. 
Properties. Bitterness in the leaves and milk in the root are their usual 
characteristics ; but the order has not been well investigated with respect to 
its qualities. Soulamea amara esteemed in the Moluccas and in Java as a 
medicine was called by Rumf “ Rex amaroris.” Hoyle. Polygala senega 
root is stimulant, diuretic, sialagogue, expectorant, purgative, emetic, and su- 
dorific, and also emmenagogue. It has been used with great success in croup. 
Barton, 2. 116. It and P. crotalarioides have been employed, the former in 
America, the latter in the Himalayas, as a cure against the bite of venomous 
reptiles. Royle. P. sanguinea, according to Barton, possesses similar quali- 
ties. A pecuhar vegetable principle, called Senegin, has been discovered by 
Gehlen in the root of Polygala senega, and Reschier is also said to have pro- 
cured a principle called Polygaline from the same plant ; but it is not knowm 
whether these two substances are the same. Stephens and Church, no. 103. 
Tlie bark of JMonnina polystachya, called Yallhoy in Peru, is stated to be ex- 
tremely useful in cases of dysentery. It also possesses detersive properties in 
a great degree. The ladies of Peru ascribe the beauty of their hair to the use 
of its infusion, and the silversmiths of Huanaco employ it for cleansing and 
polishing their wrought silver. Lambert’s Illust. Cinch. 132, &c. Krameria, 
a genus of an extremely anomalous stiaicture, is remarkable for its tonic 
and excessively astringent qualities. Its root is sold in Europe under 
the name of Ratanhia, and is one of the substances which in conjunction with 
gum kino, is used for adulterating port wine in England. According to Cadet, 
this root contains gallic acid, but neither tannin nor resin. Xanthophyllum 
furnishes timber of considerable size. Polvgala poaya is an active emetic. It 
is used successfully in Brazil in bilious fevers. Mart. Mat. Med. Bras. 12. 
GENERA. 
Polygala, L. Comesperma, La Bill. Muraltia, Neck. 
Psychanthus, Rafin. Badiera, DC. Heisteria, Berg. 
Nylandtia, Dumort. Xanthophyllum, Rox. Mundia, Kunth. 
Brachytropis, DC. Jackia, Bl. Monnina, R. et P. 
Salomonia, Lour. Soulamea, Lam. Hebeandra, Bonpl. 
Securidaca, L. 
Bredemeyera, W. 
Krameria, Lofl. 
Cardiocarpus, Rnwdt. 
Hymenanthera, R. Br. 
