99 



this membrane and the crustaceous integument of the seed, there exists a stra- 

 tum of spiral vessels, which Labillardiere, not having distinctly seen, has de- 

 scribed as an ' integumentum arachnoideum ;' and within the crustaceous in- 

 tegument there is a thin proper membrane, closely applied to the embryo, which 

 the same author has entirely overlooked. The existence of spiral vessels, par- 

 ticularly in such quantity, and, as far as can be determined in the dried speci- 

 mens, unaccompanied by other vessels, is a structure at least very unusual in 

 the integuments of a seed or caryopsis, in which they are very seldom at all vi- 

 sible ; and have never, I believe, been observed in such abundance as in this 

 genus, in all whose species they are equally obvious." 



Geography. Found in the cold parts of Europe and North America, the 

 tropics of South America, the Cape of Good Hope, India, and New Holland ; 

 in the latter country the order is chiefly represented by Casuarina. 



Properties. Aromatic shrubs, or trees of considerable size. Comptonia 

 asplenifolia possesses astringent and tonic properties, and is much used in the 

 domestic medicine of the United States, in cases of diarrhoea. Barton, 1. 

 224. [Rafinesque, Med. Bot. 1. 115.] The root of Myrica cerifera is a 

 powerful astringent, and wax is obtained in great abundance from its berries. 

 The fruit of Myrica sapida is about as large as a cherry, and, according to 

 Buchanan, is a pleasant acid and eatable in Nipal. Don, p. 56. It has a 

 pleasant, refreshing, acidulous taste. Wall. Tent. 60. 



Examples. Myrica, Nageia, Casuarina. 



LXXXVII. JUGLANDE^!. The Walnut Tribe. 



Juglandejb, Dec. Theorie, 215. (1813) ; Kunth in Ann. des Sc. Nat. 2. 343. (1824.) 



Diagnosis. Apetalous dicotyledons, with ascending definite ovules, amen- 

 taceous flowers, and a superior calyx. 

 Anomalies. 



Essential Character. — Flowers diclinous. Calyx in the staminiferous flowers oblique , 

 membranous, irregularly divided, attached to a single bractea ; in the pistilliferous superior, 

 with 4 divisions. Petals in the staminiferous ; in the pistilliferous occasionally present, and 

 4 in number, arising; from between the calyx and the styles, and cohering - at the base. Stamens 

 indefinite, (3-36,) hypogynous ; filaments very short, distinct ; anthers thick, 2-celled, innate, 

 bursting 1 longitudinally. Disk 0. Ovarium inferior, 1-cellcd ; ooulum solitary, erect; styles 

 1 or 2, and very short, or none; stigmas much dilated, either 2 and lacerated, or discoid 

 and 4-lobed. Fruit drupaceous, 1-celled, with 4 imperfect partitions. Seed 4-lobed ; embryo 

 shaped like the seed; albumen ; cotyledons fleshy, 2-lobed, wrinkled; radicle superior. — 

 Trees. Leaves alternate, unequally pinnated, without pellucid dots or stipuke. Flowers 

 amentaceous. 



Affinities. These have usually been mixed with Terebintacea?, to which 

 they, however, do not appear so closely allied as to Corylacere, with which 

 they accord in their amentaceous monoicous flowers, and superior calyx. 

 Among apetalous orders, their pinnated resinous undotted leaves particularly 

 distinguish them. 



Geography. Chiefly found in North America ; one species, the common 

 Walnut, is a native of the Levant and Persia ; another, of Caucasus ; and a 

 third, of the West India Islands. 



Properties. The fruit of the Walnut is esteemed for its sweetness and 

 wholesome qualities. It abounds in a kind of oil, of a very drying nature. 

 The rind of the fruit, and even the skin of the kernel, are extremely astringent. 

 Juglans cathartica and cinerea are esteemed anthelmintic and cathartic ; the 



