distributed the order, each of which may, in some measure, be looked upon as a distinct order,
and is so viewed by both Bartling and Lindley,
« Suborder 1. Anacardieae (Br.) Flowers usually unisexual. Calyx usually small, 5-
(sometimes 3-4-T-) cleft; the fifth segment superior. Corolla regular. Petals equal in number
to the divisions of the calyx (sometimes wanting), perigynous : aestivation imbricative or
rarely valvular. Stamens equal in number to the petals and alternate with them, or twice as
many or more : filaments distinct or cohering at the base, perigynous. Torus (in the free ovary)
fleshy, usually discoid (annular or lobed or cup-shaped), or at first inconspicuous but afterwards
enlarged into a gynophore. Ovarium solitary (of 1-5 carpels, distinct or united, but all abortive
except one) free, or rarely adhering to the calyx, l-celled ;(or sometimes with two additional
abortive cells, the remains of the imperfect' carpels): ovule solitary, attached to a podosperm
which always arises from the base of the cell, but is frequently adnate to one of its sides to
near the apex: styles usually 3 (or occasionally 4), rarely 5, usually distinct, very rarely combined:
stigmas as many. Fruit 1 -celled, indehiscent, usually drupaceous. Seed ascending, or
more frequently pendulous. Albumen none. Radicle superior or inferior, next the hilum (very
rarely at the opposite extremity) sometimes curved suddenly back: cotyledons thick and fleshy
or leafy. Trees or shrubs, with a resinous, gummy, caustic, or milky juice. Leaves alternate,
not dotted, without stipules.” • ^ -
Suborder 2. Spondieae (Kunth.) Flowers sometimes unisexual. Calyx 5-cleft, regular.
Petals 5, equal; sestivation between valvate and imbricate. Stamens 10, perigynous, distinct.
Torus large, discoid. Ovarium superior, sessile, 2-5-celled : ovules solitary, pendulous : styles,
5 short: stigmas obtuse. Fruit drupaceous, 2-5 celled. Seed solitary in each cell. Albumen
none. Radicle pointing to the hilum: cotyledons plano-convex.-^Trees. Leaves imparipin-
nate, alternate, not dotted, exstipulate.
Suborder 3. Bursereae (Kunth.) Flowers usually bis.exual. Calyx persistent, somewhat
regular, 2-5 divided. Petals 3-5, equal: sestivation usually valvular. Stamens' two or four
times as many as petals, distinct, perigynous. Torus orbicular. Ovarium 2-5 celled, superior,
sessile : ovules in pairs, collateral, suspended : style one or none : stigma simple or lobed. Fruit
rarely a hard capsule; usually drupaceous, 2-5 celled, its outer portion or sarcocarp often splitting
into valves. Seed solitary. Albumen none. Radicle straight, superior, next the hilum:
cotyledons fleshy, or wrinkled and plaited.—1'Frees or shrubs abounding in balsam, gum, or
resin. Leaves alternate, usually, not dotted, generally with stipules.
A f f in it ie s . Supposing the order broken up in the manner proposed by Brown, Lindley,
Bartling, and others, then the various orders into which it. is divided stand in a nearly equal
relationship to each other. In addition to these affinities Spondiaceae associates, according to
Lindley, with Meliaceae and Aurantiaceae in the imbricated aestivation of the calyx and in
having more than four carpels, but are distinguished by their perigynous stamens ; while Bur-
seraceae are allied to Rhamneae in the valvate aestivation of their calyx and in having fewer
than four carpels. Anacardiaceae and Amyrideae differ from each other the absence of pellucid
or glandular dots in the leaves of the former, while they are present in the latter. By
this last character Amyrideae associate with Aurantiaceae, Rutaceae, and Zanthoxylaceae,
with which they are still further associated by their hypogynous stamens.'
G e o g r a p h ic a l D i s t r ib u t io n . The order in its most extended sense may be said to be of
tropical origin, a few species only of Pistacia and Rhus being found in the south of Europe, in
the warmer parts of North America and the Cape of Good Hope. Within the tropics, and in
the warmer latitudes on either side, they are of frequent occurrence in Asia, Africa, and America;
while a very few are met within Australia. Of the number of genera enumerated by
Meisner, excluding Connaraceae, amounting to about 65 (many of which are marked with a
doubt as to their right to a place in it) the peninsular flora contains about 16 or quarter of the
whole, and probably more will be found when the country is better explored. But of that long
list of genera we have only 23 species, that is, including Pegia, which we have not introduced
into our flora. Wallich’s list is very imperfect as regards this order, including only about 25
species. Blume has 23 for Java, excluding Zanthoxylaceae which he includes in the order.
P rop erties and U s e s . These are abundantly yaried but for the most part dependent on
the Balsamic or acrid or even poisonous qualities of the resinous juices with which nearly the
whole abound, and from which the order derives its name. To arrive at a clearer understanding
of the properties of this extensive class it seems requisite in considering them, to treat
separately of those of its different divisions.
A nacardieas. To this suborder belongs Semecarpus anacardium, the well known marking
nut of India. The juices of this tree are very acrid and injurious to those who work on the
wood, while that of the nut applied to the skin causes inflammation and blisters. It is used
as a remedy against Rheumatism and sprains. The receptacles of the fruit of Anacardium
ocidentale or cashew-nut, are eat like apples, and the fruit itself after being freed from the acrid
shell by burning, makes an moderately good substitute for almonds, and is very often used as such.
The Mango also belongs to this tribe but does not require notice here, being generally well known.
This fruit when freely used is said to excite boils and other inflammatory affections of the skin,
but, so far as my own experience extends, I am disposed to attribute these ailments to the heat
of the season rather than to the fruit, as I have seen hundreds of instances where they occurred
during the hot season before a single Mango had been eat, and afterwards disappear when
they were being largely consumed.
The Rhus or Sumach family have been long celebrated for their acrid poisonous properties.
R. toxicodendron and R. venenata afford striking examples of these qualities. It is said
that merely handling the leaves of the former is sufficient to. cause a crop of vesicles, and exposure
to the volutile emanations that take place from both trees has been known to excite in susceptible
persons | severe indisposition, or they have had their bodies covered with a crop of
pustules. The two species of Rhus, natives of India, are not endowed jvith these acrid
properties, at least I have never experienced any such effects though I have frequently
been most freely exposed to and handled both, nor have I ever heard of any one being so
affected by them. Notwithstanding these poisonous properties R. toxicodendron is a good
deal used in medicine, especially in dropsical, and supposed Consumptive cases. Stagmarea a
native of the eastern Islands, and Holigarna a native of Malabar, are said to possess similar
properties, and these of a very acrid poisonous character. The juice of both is employed as a
varnish or lacquer, that of the former is very much used by the Chinese and Japanese for varnishing
all kinds of wooden articles, the elegance of which causes them to be dispersed to all
parts of the world. The juice of the Holigarna is used for lacquering shields in Malabar. For
a very full and interesting account of Stagmarea see “ Companion to the Botanical Magazine,
vol. 1 page 267-8.” The juice of Melanorrhaea Wallich, so called from the dark coloured juice
which exhudes from wounds in its bark, is employed for similar purposes in the Tenaserim
provinces, a full account of which is given in Wallich’s Plant: Asiat: Rariores: Pistacia the
last genus which I shall mention, found in Syria and along the shores of the Mediterranean,
affords from two of its species, P. terebinthus and P. lentiscus, the well known Cyprus turpentine,
and still better and much more extensively used ‘ Gum Mastich,’ so famed as a masticatory
for whitening and preserving the teethu From this slight enumeration, which does not nearly
embrace the whole, it will be seen that this suborder includes a large proportion of interesting
and useful trees.
S pondiaceae. The fruit of Spondias mangifera is eatable—so is that of some of the
West Indian species, where they have received the name of hog’s plums. From wounds in the
bark of S. mangifera a large quantity of a very pure gum flows, which is, I believe, collected and
currently sold in the Bazaars as gum arabie, which it greatly resembles. In this product, this
suborder differs widely from all the others of the order, and combined with its Botanical peculiarities
goes far to justify its separation as a distinct order. Rheede, in Hortus Malabaricus,
attributes many valuable properties to this tree which seem to be either imaginary or generally
unknown, as I have never in a single instance heard of its being used medicinally. Roxburgh
states that the young fruit is made into pickles, tarts, &c.
B urseraceae. The products of this tribe are much more highly esteemed than those of
either of the preceding—among those we find Myrrh, Copaiva, Olibanum, Balm o f Gilead,
Frankincense, &c. The fragrant unirritating balsamic qualities of all these substances, so very