320 MONOPETALEX—EPICOROLLES. 
corolla 4- or 5-lobed, regular or irregular ; stamens 4 or 5; 
ovary surmounted by an epigynous disk, of 1 or several cells, 
many-seeded, or 1 of the cells having 1 pendulous ovule ; 
style 1, with 1 or 3 stigmas; pericarp generally fleshy, 
crowned by the persistent calyx. 
The Hederacez, containing Hedera and Cornus, are poly- 
petalous, and are made a separate order by some. 
Exampies,—Elder (Sambucus nigra), Woodbine (Loni- 
cera Periclymenum), Ivy (Hedera Helix.) 
Mepicixau Prorerties.—The flowers and berries of the 
Sambucus nigra are diaphoretic and aperient, and the bark 
and leaves are active purgatives. Dwarf-Elder (S. Ebulus) 
is violently purgative. The latter character, and astrin- 
gency, are the leading features of the Caprifoliacee. The 
flowers of Honeysuckle (Lonicera Caprifolium) are mucila- 
ginous, and its leaves are astringent. The berries of Ivy 
(Hedera Helix) are purgative. In North America Cornus 
florida and €. sericea are used as tonic and febrifuge, and as 
a substitute for Cinchona bark. 
Officinal Plant. 
Sambucus nigra. 
ORDER LXXIV. 
LORANTHES. 
_ Craracters.—Parasitical plants, with a corolla of 4 or 
_ 8 divisions, and stamens opposite and equal in number to the 
_ divisions, a ¥-celled ovary, containing 1 ayes ovule, 
with 1 = and a fleshy —- 
