112 



FAMILIES OF FLO WEEING PLANTS 



flowers are borne in siicli profusion on the leafless branches, that the 

 swamp at a little distance has a distinctly yellowish cast. The sassa- 

 fras blooms somewhat later, its green twigs and peculiarly shaped 

 leaves rendering it conspicuous at any season of the year. On the Pa- 

 cific coast the California nutmeg {UmheU'dar'ia Calif orn lea) is a hand- 

 some evergreen-leaved tree with plum-like fruit. (See Fig. 1)4.) In the 

 South several species of Pemea occur, a genus represented in the trop- 

 ics by the avocado or Alligator pear {P. gratissiitia). In Eiirope the 

 bay laurel {Lauras nohilis) possesses historical interest from the fact 



that it furnishes the original 

 "laurel" used to crown the 

 heads of heroes of antiquity. 

 Bay leaves are extensively used 

 as a flavoring herb in soups, 

 stews, etc. 



In Asia there are two laura- 

 ceous trees of economic inter- 

 est,tlie cinnamon( Cinnamommn 

 Zeylanicam) and the camphor 

 (C. Camphor a). Recently some 

 experiments in the cultivation 

 of the camphor tree have been 

 made under the auspices of the 

 Department of Agriculture 

 along the southern Atlantic 

 seaboard, with a fair degree of 

 success. In British Guiana 

 occurs the greenheart {Necta}i- 

 dra Bodiaei), which yields an 

 ash-colored bark known as 

 bebeeru; it is used medicinally as a tonic and febrifuge. Another spe- 

 cies of Nectandra grows in south Florida, and is handsome on account 

 of its panicles of creamy-white Howers. 



Mention should also be made of a peculiar genus {CcffSt/tha), usu- 

 ally classed with this family, although it should be more properly sep- 

 arated as a distinct group. The species are leafless twining j^arasitic 

 vines. 



Family Hernandiaceae. Hernandia Family. Contains 4 genera 

 and about 20 species, natives of tropical regions, and formerly included 

 in the Lauraceae, which they resemble in structure. Thej possess no 

 especial economic interest. 



Fig. 96. The yellow water .cress {Roiipapahistris). 

 showing an enlarged pod. After Britton & Brown, 111. 

 Fl. Northea.st. U. S. 



