FAMILIES OF FLOWERING PLANTS 



105 



section. The flowers are small and dioecious, borne in clusters, and 

 have from 4 to 6 sepals, 6 petals, an equal number of stamens, and from 

 8 to many pistils. The fruit is a berry. 



In the northern States we have only the common moonseed {Meni- 

 spermum Canadeiise); this is reinforced in the South by the cupseed 

 (Calycocarpum Lyoui), a handsome vine with large grape-like fruits; 

 and by the Carolina moonseed (CehatJia Carolina). The family as a 

 whole has bitter and narcotic properties, and some plants belonging to 

 it are extremely poisonous. The tropical Cissampelos Pareira yields 

 the well known tonic, Pareira brava. 



Fig. 89. The dwarf barberry {Berberis nana), one-third natural size. Original. 



Family Magnoliaceae. Magnolia Family. Contains about ten gen- 

 era and 70 species, of very wide geographic distribution. All are trees 

 or shrubs with alternate, entire leaves, and large flowers having 3 sepals 

 and 3 petals, innumerable stamens, and very numerous carpels borne 

 on an enlarged base or receptacle, and ripening into one- or two-seeded 

 follicles or achenes, still coherent in a mass. The tulip-tree or white 

 i:)oplar {Liriodendron tulip'ifera), a flower of which is shown in the ac- 

 companying figure, is of immense value not only as a timber tree, but 

 as an ornamental shade tree when growing singly near a dwelling. The 

 native species of Magnolia, while all handsome when in flower, are ex- 



