27 



founded with them. The seeds of lUicium anisatum are considered in India 

 to be powerfully stomachic and carminative. A very fragrant volatile oil 

 is also obtained from them. Ainslie, 2. 20. The Chinese burn them in their 

 temples, and Europeans employ them to aromatise certain liquors, such as 

 the Anisette de Bourdeaux. Drymis Winteri yields the Winter's Bark, which 

 is known for its resemblance to that of cinnamon, A. R. A bark called Me- 

 lambo Bark, possessing similar properties, is described by M. Cadet in the 

 Journal de Pharmacie, 1815, p. 20. The bark of Drimys granatensis, called 

 Casca dC Anta in Brazil, is much used against colic. It is tonic, aromatic, 

 and stimulant, and resembles, in nearly all respects, the Drimys Winteri, or 

 Winter's Bark, Plantes Usuelles, 26 — 28. 

 Examples. lUicium, Wintera. 



XVIII. CALYCANTHEtE. The Carolina Allspice Tribe. 



Calycanthe.^:, Lindl. in Bot. Reg.fol. 404. (1819); Dec. Prodr. 3. 1. (1828.) — 

 CalycanthiNjE, Link. Enum. 2. (J6. (1822.) 



Diagnosis, Polypetalous dicotyledons, with definite perigynous sta- 

 mens, numerous imbricated sepals, ovaria enclosed in a fleshy tube, convo- 

 lute albumen, anthers turned outwards, opposite exstipulate leaves, and 

 stems with 5 axes of growth. 



Anomalies. 



Essential Character — Sepals and petals confounded, indefinite, imbricated, 

 combined in a fleshy tube. Stamens indefinite, inserted in a fleshy rim at the mouth 

 of the tube, the inner sterile. Anthers adnate, turned outwards. Ovaries several, simple, 

 1 -celled, with one terminal style, adhering to the inside of the tube of the calyx; ovula 

 solitary, or sometimes 2, of which one is al)ortive, ascending. Nuts enclosed in the fleshy 

 tulie of the calyx, 1-seeded, indehiscent. Seed ascending; albumen wane ; cotyledons con- 

 volute, with their face next the axis ; radicle inferior Shrubs, with square stems, having 



4 woody imperfect axes surrounding the central ordinary one. Leaves opposite, simple, 

 scabrous, without stipuhe. Flowers axillary, solitary. 



Affinities. It is not very clear to what order this is most nearly 

 related. Jussieu originally placed it at the end of Rosacese {Gen,); he 

 subsequently referred it to Monimiese ; and I afterwards formed it into a 

 particular family. With Monimieee it is less nearly related than it appears 

 to be, the principal points of resemblance being the disposition of several 

 nuts within a fleshy calyx in both orders; for Calycanthese can scarcely be 

 considered apetalous, as Monimiese are, on account of the obvious petals 

 of Chimonanthus. The imbricated sepals, in Calycanthus chocolate-coloured 

 and becoming confounded with the petals, the fragrance of the flowers, 

 and the plurality of ovaria, seem to indicate an affinity with Winterea?, 

 especially with Illicium ; but the decidedly perigynous stamens and fleshy 

 calyx enclosing the ovaria in its tube, the highly developed embryo, and 

 want of albumen, are great objections to such an approximation. Com- 

 bretaceoe agree in having an exalbuminous embryo with convolute coty- 

 ledons; but with this their resemblance ceases. Myrtaceas also agree in this 

 same particular, in the case of Punica ; and their opposite leaves, without 

 stipute, frequent fragrance, and perigynous stamens, strengthen the atfinity 

 indicated by the embryo. Rosaceae, to which Jussieu originally referred 

 Calycanthus, agree in the perigynous insertion of their stamens, in the pecu- 

 liar structure of their calyx, the tube of which in Rosa is entirely analogous 

 to that of Calycantheae, in the superposition of tlieir ovules when two are 

 present, and in the high developcnient of their exalbuminous embryo: upon 



