24 



produce of Myristica moschata; but an aromatic fruit is also borne by other 

 species. The Nutmeg of Santa Fe is the Myristica Otoba. Humb. Cinch. 

 For. p. 29. Eny. ed. 



Examples. Myristica, Knema. 



XV. MAGNOLIACE^. The Magnolia Tribe. 



Magnolia, Juss. Gm. 280. (1789); Magnoliack^, Dec. St/st. 1. 439. (1818); Prodr. 



1. 77. (1824.) 



Diagnosis. Polypetalous dicotyledons, with hypogynous stamens^ 

 anthers bursting by longitudinal slits, numerous distinct simple carpella, and 

 stipulate leaves without transparent dots. 



Anomalies. The flowers of Mayna are dioecious. 



Essential Characteh. — Sepals 3-C, deciduous. Petals 3-27, hypogynous, in 

 several rows. Stamens indefinite, distinct, hypogynous. Anthers adnate, long. Ovaria 

 numerous, simple^ arranged upon the tonis above the stamens, 1-celled; ovules either 

 ascending or suspended ; styles short; stigmas sim-ple. /^r?<i< either dry or succulent, con- 

 sisting of numerous carpella, which are either dehiscent or indehiscent, distinct or partially 

 connate, alwa}'s numerous, and arranged upon an elongated axis, .sometimes terminated by 

 a membranous wing. Seeds solitary, or several, attached to the inner edge of the carpella. 



Embryo minute, at the base of fleshy albumen Fine trees or shrubs. Leaves alternate, 



not dotted, coriaceous, articulated distinctly with the stem ; with deciduous stipiilae, which, 

 when young, are rolled together like those of Ficus. Flowers large, solitary, often strongly 

 odoriferous. 



Affinities. Nearly related to Dilleniacese, from which they are chiefly 

 'distinguished by the ternary, not quinary, arrangement of the parts of the 

 flower; from Anonacese, to which they also approach, their stipulte and solid 

 albumen separate them. Their stipulation points out their affinity with 

 Urticeae ; their imbricate petals and sepals, and numerous ovaria, with Caly- 

 cantheae, and through them with Monimieffi. 



Geography. The focus of this order is undoubtedly North America, 

 where the woods, the swamps, and the sides of the hills, abound with them. 

 Thence they straggle, on the one hand, into the West India Islands, and, 

 on the other, into India, through China and Japan. Mr. Brown remarks 

 {Congo, 465), that no species have been found on the continent of Africa, 

 or in any of the adjoining islands. Twenty-eight species are all that 

 M. Decandolle enumerates. 



PiioPERTiEs. The general character of the order is, to have a bitter 

 tonic taste, and fragrant flowers. The latter produce a decided action upon 

 the nerves, which, according to Decandolle, induces sickness and headach 

 from Magnolia tripetala, and, on the authority of Barton, is so stimulating 

 on the part of Magnolia glauca as to produce paroxysms of fever, and even 

 an attack of inflammatory gout. The bark has been found to be destitute of 

 tannin and gallic acid, notwithstanding its intense bitterness. The bark of 

 the root of Magnolia glauca is an important tonic. Barton, 1. 87. The 

 same property is found in the Liriodcndron tulipifera, which has even been 

 said to be equal to Peruvian bark. Michelia Doltsopa is one of the finest 

 trees in Nipal, yielding an excellent fragrant wood, much used in that 

 country for house-building. Don. Prodr. 226. Magnolia excclsa has a 

 valuable timber, called Champ, at first greenish, but soon changing into a 

 pale yellow; the texture is fine. Wallich. Tent. 7. The cones of Magnolia 

 acuminata yield, in Virginia, a spirituous tincture, which is employed with 



