96 



supply of a rich and wholesome milk, belongs to this order ; it is supposed 

 to be related to Brosimum. Brosimum alicastrum abounds in a tenacious 

 gummy milk ; its leaves and young shoots are much eaten by cattle, but 

 when they become old they cease to be innocuous. The roasted nuts are 

 used instead of bread, and have much the taste of Hazel nuts. Swartz, 1.19. 

 A kind of paper is manufactured from Broussonetia papyrifera. The bark of 

 the Morus alba contains moroxylic acid in combination with. lime. Turner, 640. 

 Fustick, a yellow dye, is the wood of Morus tinctoria. The seeds of Ficus 

 religiosa are supposed by the doctors of India to be cooling and alterative. 

 Ainslie, 2. 25. The leaves of Ficus septica are emetic. Ibid. The Cochin- 

 chinese consider that plant caustic and anthelmintic. The bark of Ficus 

 racemosa is slightly astringent, and has particular virtues in heEmaturia and 

 menorrhagia. The juice of its root is considered a powerful tonic, [bid. 2. 31. 

 The white glutinous juice of Ficus indica is applied to the teeth and gums, 

 to ease the toothache; it is also considered a valuable application to the 

 soles of the feet when cracked and inflamed. The bark is supposed to be a 

 powerful tonic, and is administered by the Hindoos in diabetes. Ibid. 2. 11. 

 Gum lac is obtained from the Ficus indica in great abundance. The tena- 

 city of life in some plants of this family is remarkable. A specimen of Ficus 

 australis lived and grew suspended in the air, without earth, in one of the 

 hothouses in the Botanic Garden, Edinburgh, for eight months, without 

 experiencing any apparent inconvenience. Ed. P. J. 3. 80. The celebrated 

 Banyan Tree of India is Ficus religiosa. Prince Maximilian, of Wied 

 Neuwied, says that the colossal wild Fig-trees " are one of the most grate- 

 ful presents of nature to hot countries : the shade of such a magnificent tree 

 refreshes the traveller when he reposes under its incredibly wide-spreading 

 branches, with their dark green shining foliage. The Fig-trees of all hot 

 countries have generally very thick trunks, with extremely strong boughs, 

 and a prodigious crown." Travels, p. 104. Is it possible that the Indian 

 poison with which the Nagas tip their arrows, of the tree that produces 

 which nothing is known, can belong to this tribe? See, for an account of 

 the effect of this poison, Brewster's Journal, 9. 219. The poisonous pro- 

 perty of the U"pas has been found to depend upon the presence of that most 

 virulent of all principles, called strychnia. Turner, 650. 

 Examples. Artocarpus, Morus, Madura. 



LXXXI. STILAGINE^. 



Stilagine^, Agardh's Classes, 199. (1824); Vm Martins Hort. Reg. Monac (1829.) 



Diagnosis. Apetalous dicotyledons, with unisexual spiked flowers, 

 collateral pendulous ovules, solitary ovaria, 2-lol)ed anthers bursting verti- 

 cally, and 1 -seeded fruit with an albuminous seed. 



Anomalies. 



Essential Characteii Flowers unisexual. Calyx 3- or 5-parted. Corolla Q. 



Stamens 2, or more, arising from a tumid receptacle ; filaments capillary ; anthers innate, 

 2-lobed, with a fleshy connectivum and vertical cells opening transversely. Ovarium supe- 

 rior; stigma sessile, 3-4-toothed. Fruit drupaceous, with 1 seed and the remains of ano- 

 ther. Seed suspended ; embryo green, with foliaceous cotyledons, lying in the midst of 



copious fleshy albumen Trees or shrubs. Leaves alternate, simple, with deciduous 



stipulw. 



Affinities. An obscure order, of the limits of which nothing has been 



