206 



in the management of intermittent fevers. Barton, 1. 51. It is a remarkable 

 fact, that the young branches of Cornus florida, stripped of their bark and 

 rubbed with their ends against their teeth, render them extremely white. Ibid. 

 From the bark of the more fibrous roots the Indians obtain a good scarlet 

 colour. Ibid. 1. 120. Triosteum perfoliatum is a mild cathartic; in large 

 doses it produces vomiting. Its dried and roasted berries have been used as a 

 substitute for Coffee. Ibid. 1. 63. 

 Examples. See above. 



CXCII. LORANTHE.E. 



Loranthejj, Juss. and Rich. Ann. Mus. 12.292. (1S08) ; Dec. and Duby, 246. (1828); Lindl. 

 Synops. 133. (1829.) [Dec. Prod. 4. 276. (1830.)] 



Diagnosis. Monopetalous dicotyledons, with an inferior 1-celled ovarium, 

 a single pendulous ovulum, a naked stigma, and stamens opposite the lobes of 

 the corolla. 



Anomalies. Sometimes polypetalous. 



Essential Character. — Calyx superior, with 2 bractcse at the base. Corolla with 4 or 8 

 petals, more or less united at the base. Stamens equal in number to the petals, and opposite 

 to them. Ovarium 1-celled ; ovulum pendulous ; s/y/e 1 or none ; stigma simple. Fruit suc- 

 culent, 1-celled. Seeds solitary, pendulous; testa membranous; embryo cylindrical, longer 

 than the fleshy albumen ; radicle naked, clavate, superior. — Parasitical half-shrubby 

 plants. Leaves opposite, sometimes alternate, veinless, fleshy, without stipul». Flowers often 

 monoecious, axillary or terminal, solitary, corymbose, or spiked. 



Affinities. Very near Caprifoliacere, from which they are readily known 

 not only by their universally parasitical habit, but also by their stamens being 

 opposite the lobes of the corolla, and not alternate with them. Viscum seems 

 to bear about the same relation to Loranthus that Cornus does to Lonicerea^. 

 Mr. Don has expressed an opinion that a connexion is established between this 

 order and Araliacea?, by means of Aucuba (Jameson's Jour. Jan. 1830, p. 

 168) ; but this does not seem clearly made out. Mr. Brown (Flinders, 549) 

 suggests their relation to Proteacere. The anther of Viscum is remarkable for 

 having its substance broken up into a number of hollow cavities containing 

 pollen, and not divided regularly into 2 lobes, each of which has a cavity con- 

 taining pollen, and a longitudinal line of dehiscence. A good figure of this will 

 be found in the Ann. du Museum, vol. 12. t. 27. fig. E. The germination of 

 Viscum is exceedingly remarkable. It has afforded a subject for some curious 

 experiments upon the nature of the vital energies of vegetables. See Dulro- 

 chet sur la Motility, 1 14. 



Geography. Judging from the collections of systematic botanists, it would 

 appear that the tropics of America contain a greater number of species than all 

 the rest of the world ; but we now know, from the extensive researches of Dr. 

 Wallich, that the Flora of India contains at least as large a proportion : the or- 

 der would therefore seem to be equally dispersed through the equinoctial regions 

 of both Asia and America ; but on the continent of Africa to be much more 

 rare, only 2 having been yet described from equinoctial Africa, and 5 or 6 from 

 the Cape of Good Hope. Two are named from the South Seas, and 1 from 

 New Holland : but this number requires, no doubt, to be largely increased. 



Properties. The bark is usually astringent, as in the Misletoe of the Oak. 

 Tne berries contain a viscid matter like birdlime, which is insoluble in water 

 and alcohol. The most remarkable quality that they possess, however, is the 



