124 FAMILIES OF FLOWERING PLANTS 



nelUa, a genus of South American and Hawaiian trees, resembling the 

 prickly-ash {Xanfhoxyhim) in structure and appearance. 



Family Cunoniaceae. Cunonia Family. Contains about 20 genera 

 and 120 species, natives of the southern hemisphere. They are shrubs 

 or trees with opposite leaves, differing from related groups by the pres- 

 ence of stipules. The trees of the large genus Weinmaiinia afford a 

 light wood suitable for cabinet-making, and the astringent bark is used 

 for tanning. 



Family Myrothamnaceae. Myrothamnus Family. Consists of one 

 genus, llyrothammis, with several South African species. 



Family Bruniaceae. Brunia Family. Contains 5 genera and about 

 50 species, all low, heath-like shrubs of South Africa and Madagascar. 

 Though differing very much from the following family, they are not 

 materially distinct in structure, except that the leaves are without stij)- 

 ules. 



Famil}^ Hamamelidaceae. Witch-hazel famil3\ Includes 15 gen- 

 era and 35 species, natives of North America, South Africa and Asia. 

 They are trees or shrubs with simple, alternate leaves, and perfect or 

 polygamous flowers, often lacking a perianth. The ovary consists of 2 

 carpels, becoming in fruit a 2-valved woody capsule. Hamamelis, the 

 witch-hazel, is Avell known in our eastern States, through its peculiarity 

 of blooming in the late fall when the leaves are dropping. Fofhergi/lsi, 

 a closely allied genus of the southern States is shown in Fig. 109. 

 Liquidamhar, the sweetgum, is a handsome forest tree. 



Family Platanaceae. Plane-tree Family. Comprises only the 

 genus Platanus, with about 7 species, the best known of Avhich is the 

 common plane-tree, button-wood or sycamore {P. occidentalis). The 

 flowers are monoecious, in dense globular heads. The hollowed petiole- 

 bases of the leaves fit over the bud for the ensuing year like a cap. 

 This family is obviously related to the Hamamelidaceae, and is now 

 placed next to it, although widely separated in the old sequence of 

 Bentham & Hooker. 



