78 ILLICIUM FLORIDANUM. 
duous. Petals linear, obtuse, in three rows, 
about nine in a row, the uppermost row ascend- 
ing, the lowermost descending, and broader or 
more spatulate. Stamens thirty or more, diverg- 
ing, flat, depressed with the anthers recurved ; 
pollen white. Germs a dozen or more, round- 
ish-rhomboidal, compressed and arranged in a 
circular manner; styles short, recurved, pubescent 
on the inside, ‘The fruit, which I have not seen, 
is represented by authors, as has been stated in 
the generic character. 
~ The leaves and young shoots of this species 
of Starry anise abound in a fine, clear mucilage, 
which becomes immediately perceptible in the 
mouth, if these parts are chewed, and which com- 
municates to water in a short time a ropy con- 
sistence. This mucilage is separated from’ the 
decoction by alcohol in the form of dark brown, 
tough, stringy coagula. Muriate of tin causes a 
precipitate after these coagula are withdrawn, 
which seems to indicate the presence of extract, 
Sulphate of iron added to the decoction, coagu- 
lated the mucus and darkened the colour, 1 
discovered no traces of resin in the portions 
submitted to experiment, and a strong tincture 
was not disturbed by water. The trial, oe 
was conducted on a small scale. 
