CHIOCOCCA (from Xtrr and raverer), a genus of plants belonging to the natural order Ciscisonacer. Calyx with an oval tube and an acutely 5-toothed permanent limb. Corolla funnel-shaped, with an obconicel tube or throat, and five acute lobes. Stamens with the filaments hardly adnate to the bottom of the corolla, downy, and shorter than the anthers, which are inclosed and linear. Style rather clavate at the apex, entire or slightly 2-lobed. Berry somewhat didyinom, compressed, crowned by the teeth of the calyx, containing two chartaceons 1-seeded pyrenze. Seeds pendulous. Embryo with a long superior radicle. Albumen cartilaginous. Shrubs generally with a somewhat climbing habit. Leaves opposite, ovate or oblong Route, glabrous. Stipules broad at the base, permanent, more or less api culeted. Racemes axillary, opposite, simple or panicled. Flowers pedicellate, of a yellowish-white colour. Roots emetic and alexiterie.
C. race:nom:, Racemose Snow-Berry, has oval leaves acuminated at both ends, smooth ; stipules broad at the base, and apiculated by a long point at the apex ; filaments of stamens downy. It is a native of the West Indian Islands and Carthagena, on hills. It is a very variable shrub. The corollas at first are white and scentless, but at length become yellowish and sweet-scented. The berries are snow white, hence the English name. The root has an acid bitter taste, and has long been used as a strong resolutive or attenuant ; it is administered in obstinate rheumatisms, and is also an excellent emetic. This is a plant commonly cultivated in gardens, and there are several varieties of it.
C. densiffora, Dense-Flowered Snow-Berry, has ovate rather coria ceoue leaves, many-flowered racemes, the corolla much longer than the calyx, the filaments densely-bearded. It is a native of Brazil, in
woods at Almeida and Serradas, on the mountains of Bahia, and at the port of St. Catherine.
C. anguifuga, Anguifuge Snow-Berry, has ovate acuminated leaves ; stipules very broad, short, each ending in a short point; racemes panicled ; corolla not quite three times longer than the calycine teeth. It is a native of Brazil in woods, French Guyana, Trinidad, Peru, Cuba, and on the Spanish Main. Both this and the former species are used in Brazil as a certain remedy for serpent bites. An infusion of the bark produces the most violent purgative and emetic effects.
C. odorata, Sweet-Scented Snow-Berry, has broad oval leaves, rather coriaceous, very blunt, acute at the base, and running down the short petiole, ; peduncles axillary, solitary; 34-flowered corolla, with a throat It is a native of Elizabeth Island, one of the Society Islands. The flowers are described as smelling like cowslips.
C. barbota, Bearded Flowered Snow-Berry, has oval leaves, acute at the base, and tapering into short petioles, acuminated and obtuse at the apex ; peduncles axillary, solitary ; 1-3-flowered; corolla with a bearded throat ; 5-cleft. It is a native of the Society and Friendly Islands.
C. Jarana, Java Snow-Berry, is a parasitical shrub, with oblong lanceolate leaves, acuminated at both ends, glabrous, velvety, and shining above ; corymbs terminal, trichotomous. This is a native of Java, on the mountains, upon trees.
All the species of Chiococca grow hest in a mixture of loam, peat, and sand, and strike freely in sand under a hand-glass.