Flora Medica

SALVADORACE^E.Nat. syst.ed. 2. ^.269.SALVADORA.Calyx small, quadrifid, with ovate rather obtuse segmentsCorolla quadripartite, with revolute segments. Styles short,with a simple, obtuse, umbilicated stigma. Berry globose,1 -celled, with a spherical seed, enwrapped in a callous tunic.875. S. persica Garc. phil. trans. 174-9. n. 4-91. Vahl. symb.i. 12. t. 4. Lam. illustr. t. 81. Roxb.fi. ind. i. 389. corom. pi.i. 26. t. 26. Rivina paniculata Linn. syst. veg. ed. xv. 171.Cissus arborea Forsk. desci: 32. Most parts of the Circars ofIndia; Arabia; Persian Gulf.Trunk generally crooked, from 8 to 10 feet high to the branches, and1 in diameter. Bark very scabrous, and deeply cracked. Branchesexceedingly numerous, spreading, with their extremities perfectly pendulous,like the weeping willow. Leaves opposite, stalked, oval oroblong, entire, very smooth, and shining on both sides, without veins ;from 1 to 2 inches long, and about 1 broad. Stipules none. Paniclesterminal, and from the exterior axils. Flowers minute, very numerous,greenish-yellow. Bracts minute. Calyx inferior, 4-toothed, permanent.Corolla monopetalous ;tube short; border 4-cleft; segmentsoblong, revolute. Filaments 4, inserted into the tube of the corollaunder its fissures, and rather shorter than the border. Anthers oval.Ovary globular ; style none ; stigma scabrous. Berry very minute,much smaller than a grain of black pepper, smooth, red, juicy. Seedsingle. The fruit has a strong aromatic smell, and tastes like Gardencress. The bark of the root is remarkably acrid ;bruised and appliedto the skin it soon raises blisters, for which the natives of India oftenuse it. As a stimulant it promises to be a medicine of very considerablepower. Roxb. It is supposed to be the Mustard Tree of Scripture.477