EXOGENOUS OK DICOTYLEDONOUS PLANTS. 



417 



of the Old "World, from which the poisonous Laurel-water and the 

 virulent Oil of Laurel are obtained. Our Southern species, Prunus 

 (Laurocerasus) Caroliniana, poisons cattle which eat its foliage. 

 The root of Gillenia (Bowman's Eoot, Indian Physic) is emetic in 

 large doses, in small doses it acts as a tonic. The bark and root in 

 all are astringent. The bark of Amygdaleaj also exudes gum. 

 That of the Wild Black Cherry is febrifugal ; and the timber is 

 useful in cabinet-work. Sweet and bitter almonds are the seeds of 

 varieties of Amygdalus communis : the oil of the former resembles 

 olive-oil ; that of the latter is poisonous. Of the Peach, Apricot, 

 Nectarine, Plum, and Cherry, it is unnecessary to speak. The 

 sti-awberry, raspberry, and blackberry are the principal fruits of the 

 proper Rosacea. The leaves of Rosa centifolia are more commonly 

 distilled for Rose-water : and Attar of Hoses is obtained from R. 

 Damascena, &c. — Pomaceous fruits, such as the apple, pear, quince, 

 services, medlar, &c., yield to none in importance : their acid is 

 usually the malic. 



817 



815. Ord. CalycantliaceiE. A small group of shrubs, between the 



FIG. 814. Flowers of Calycanthus floridus. 815. Vertical section of a flower, showing the 

 hollow receptacle, &c. ; the floral envelopes cut away. 816. A stamen, seen from without. 

 817. A pistil. 818. Section of the ovary, showing the two ascending ovules. 819 The closed 

 pod-shaped receptacle in fruit 820. A vertical section of an achenium, showing the embryo 

 of the seed. 821. Cross-section of an embryo, showing the strongly convolute cotyledons. 



