468 



ILLUSTRATIONS OF Tilt: NATURAL ORDKRS. 



the calyx, which, although free from the ovary, becomes succulent, 

 like a berry in fruit, and constricted at the throat, enclosing the 

 crustaceous achenium. — Ex. Eleagnus, Shepherdia. Plants of no 

 economical importance, except that a few are cultivated for their 

 silvery foliage. The fruit is sometimes eaten, as is that of the Buf- 

 falo-berry (Shepherdia argentea) and Silver-berry (Eleagnus ar- 

 gentea) by the Northern aborigines. 



901. Ord. ProteacefC {Protect Family). A rather large family of 

 shrubs and trees of Southern temperate and subtropical regions, 

 chiefly of the Cape of Good Hope and Australia (a few in South 

 Amei'ica, &c.), with rigid coriaceous leaves, perfect flowers, either 

 regular or irregular, mostly in hetids or spikes ; the lobes of the 

 calyx valvate in aestivation ; a stamen borne on each of its four 

 lobes ; the pistil simple and free, forming a njostly dehiscent fruit ; 

 seeds with a lai'ge and straight embrj-o, and no albumen. INIany 

 of these plants are prized in conservatories for their beauty or sin- 

 gularity : the seeds of a few species are eaten. 



902. Ord. SailtalacCBB {Sandal-ivood Family). Trees, shrubs, or 

 sometimes herbs (their roots inclined to form parasitic attach- 

 ments) ; with alternate entire leaves, and small (very rarely dioe- 



1123 



1122 



1126 



1124 



cious) flowers. Calyx-tube adherent to the ovary ; the limb four- 

 or five-cleft, valvate in aestivation ; its base lined with a fleshy disk, 

 the edf'e of which is often lobed. Stamens as many as the lobes of 



FIG. 1122. Branch of Comandra umbellata. 1123. Enlarged flower, laid open. 1124. Ver- 

 tical section of a flower. 1125 One of the' segments of the calyx, enlargeil, showing the tuft 

 of hairs which connects its surface with the anther '. 1126. The fruit, reduced in size. 



