Flora Medica

CINCHONACEJE.cimens in the collection of Dr. Thomson, and the same number in thatof Mr. Lambert. Called Cascarillo negrillo by the Quina gatherers ranks;next in qualityto the bark of C. lanceolata ;and is much better thanthe Quina naranjada of Santa Fe. Ruiz. In his MSS. the sameBotanist adds that although it is of good quality itself it always comesto Spain mixed with inferior sorts.Poppig describes this as furnishing the finest bark gathered nearCuchero. He " says The tree inhabits only the higher mountains,and is scarcer than the other species: its trunk 12 to 15 feet, and onthe cold summits of the mountains attains only the stature of a bush,when it yields so little bark, that only 5 or 6 pounds on an averagecan be expected from a single tree. The Peruvians distinguish thisbark by its generally blackish upper skin, which is only here and thereinterrupted by small grey-green spots when in a fresh state. The commonpeople consider these appearances as an integral part of the bark,and look upon it as the more valuable, if beneath the larger spots thereappears a black shining velvety substance, dispersed in ovals, of somelines broad (this probably arises from the presence of some species ofByssus). The quality of this bark is also attested, according to thestatements of the Cascarilleros, by its exhibiting a glossy, shining,almost rosiny fracture; its colour withinside should also be that of aripe orange, with a light transition to a fiery brown. In the month ofFebruary the forests are perfumed with the strong scent of its blossoms."The same excellent observer says that the Case, provinciananegrilla, is obtained from the same tree growing in the warmer valleys ;its samples are coarser, but the difference is of no medicinal importance.M. Reichel examined Poppig's specimens of the bark, but was not ableto identify them with any particular sort known in trade. He statesthat their " appearance, as well as other characters, and particularly acomparison with the original specimens of M. Bergen, leave no doubtthat this bark is equal to the finest sort from Loxa. It formerly came,though rarely, and in small pieces among the Lima barks. The decoctionis of a peculiarly beautiful reddish yellow ;and when tried with thetests of oxyde of iron, oxalic and emetic tartar, proves its quality tobe the very best."84-2. C. villosa Pavon MSS. C. Humboldtiana Lamb. Elustration7. St. Jaen de Loxa. Pavon.Young branches somewhat quadrangular, villous with long, loosehairs. Leaves ovate-lanceolate, or oblong-lanceolate, rather thin, acuminatebut hardly acute, pointed at the base, not shining, the upperones among the flowers ovate ; nearly free from hairs on the upperside except the midrib ;covered with scattered, numerous shaggy hairson the under side, especially the veins, and upon the petioles. "Panicleterminal, rather long, leafy towards the base, with very villous pedicels.Calyx tomentose all over ;with a short, half 5-cleft limb. Corolla ....Fruit about an inch long, oval, rather strongly ribbed, tomentose.Four specimensin Dr. Thomson's herbarium, five in Mr. Lambert's.Nothing is known of its bark. Why Pavon's expressive name ofC. villosa should have been altered in Mr. Lambert's " illustration" toC. Humboldtiana, I am at a loss to discover.84-3. C. oblongifolia Lambert illustr. p. 12.; not of MutisJaen de Loxa. Pavon.Young shoots quadrangular, densely tomentose. Leaves 8-9 incheslong, ovate oblong or rather cordate, obtuse, scabrous with down on422