EXOGENOUS OR DICOTYLEDONOUS PLANTS. 415 



commerce consists of the leaves of several species of Cassia, of 

 Egypt and Ai-abia. C. Marilandica of this country is a succedane- 

 um for the officinal article. — More acrid, or even poisonous prop- 

 erties, are often met with in the order. The roots of Baptisia 

 tinctoria (called Wild Indigo, because it is said to peld a little of 

 that substance), of the Bi'oom, and of the Dyers' Weed (Genista 

 tinctoria, used for dyeing yellow), possess such qualities ; while the 

 seeds of Labui-num, &c. are even narcotico-acrid poisons. The 

 branches and leaves of Tephrosia, and the bark of the root of 

 Piscidia Erythrina (Jamaica Dogwood, which is also found in South- 

 ern Florida), are commonly used in the West Indies for stupefying 

 fish. Cowitch is the stinging hairs of the pods of species of Mu- 

 cuna. — Among the numerous valuable timber-trees, our o\\ n Locust 

 (Robinia Pseudacacia) must be mentioned ; and also the Rosewood 

 of commerce, the produce of some Brazilian Coesalpinieas. Few 

 orders furnish so many plants cultivated for ornament. 



809. Ord. Rosacea; {Rose Family). Trees, shrubs, or herbs, with 

 alternate leaves, usually furnished with stipules. Flowers regular. 

 — Calyx of five (rarely three or four) more or less united sepals, 

 and often with as many bracts. Petals as many as the sepals 

 (rarely none), mostly imbricated in cestivation, perigynous. Sta- 

 mens indefinite, or sometimes few, distinct. Ovaries with solitary 

 Qr few ovules : styles often lateral. Albumen none. Embryo 

 straight, Avith broad and flat or plano-convex cotyledons (Fig. 108- 

 IH). — Tills important order is divided into four suborders; viz.: — 



810. Suboi'tl. ChrysobalaiieCE (Cocoa-plum Family). This is now 

 generally taken as an independent order, intermediate between 

 Leguminosa3 and Rosacece. Ovary solitary, free from the calyx, or 

 else cohering with it at the base on one side only, containing two 

 erect "ovules : style arising from the apparent base. Fruit a drupe. 

 Trees or shrubs. — Fx. Chrysobalanus ; some species of which pro- 

 duce an edible fruit. 



811. Suboi'd. km)gAii.ki2 (Almond or Plum Family). Ovary soli- 

 tary, free from the deciduous calyx, with two suspended ovules, and 

 a terminal style. Fruit a di-upe (Fig. 5G2). Trees or shrubs. — 

 Fx. Amygdalus (the Almond, Peach), Prunus (the Plum), &:c. 



812. Subord. RosacetC proper. Ovaries several, numerous, or rarely 

 solitary, free from the calyx (which is often bracteolate, as if 

 double), but sometimes enclosed in its persistent tube, in fruit becom- 

 ing either folHcles or achenia. Styles terminal or lateral. Herbs or 



