Gymnogens.] 



TAXACE^. 



231 



These plants occur in the mikler cHmatcs of a gi-eat part of the worl.l, and hence they 

 are found in elevated situations withhi the tropics. The common Yew is the only species 

 known in Europe ; and it is common hi the North of Asia. The majority belong to 

 Asia or its dependencies. Dacrydium and 

 Phyllocladus are abundant hi New Zea- 

 land. Of Podocarp, the richest of any 

 in species, three are foimd at the Cape of 

 Good Hope. 



Yews and their allies are resinous like 

 Conifers, and often valuable for their 

 timber, as evinced by the common Yew, 

 which is imsurpassed for durability and 

 elasticity. Podocarpus cupressina (Cho- 

 raoro) is one of the best timber ti'ees of 

 Java. The Dacrydium taxifohmn, or 

 Kakaterro of New Zealand, acquii'es a 

 heightof 200 feet.— ^(/. Ph. Journ. 1 3. 378 ; 

 its branches may be manufactm'ed mto 

 a beverage resembling m antiscorbutic 

 qualities the well-known spruce beer. 

 Podocarpus Totarra fiu'nishes the 

 most valuable timber in New Zealand ; 

 and it is said that the possession of the 

 trees has been the cause of wars among 

 the savage natives. The leaves of the common Yew are fetid, very poisonous, especially 

 to horses and cows. (Rex Cativolus Taxo, cujus magna in Gallia Germaniaque copia est, 

 se exanimavit. Ccesar.) The berries are not dangerous. The seeds are said to be unwhole- 

 some. On the authority of an Itahan physician it is stated that Yew-leaves, when admi- 

 nistered in small doses to man, have a power similar to that of Digitalis over the action 

 of the heart and arteries, reducing the circulation, and if persisted in too long, or given 

 in too large doses, as certainly fatal. Yew is, however, reported to have one decided 

 advantage over Digitalis, by its effects not accumulating in the system ; so that it is a 

 much more manageable and more efficient remedy. — Burnett. The bark of Phyllocla- 

 dus trichomanoides yields a red dye. The fruits of Salisbm-ia, a tree of great beauty, now 

 common in Europe, are about as large as Damsons, and both resinous and astrmgent ; 

 their kernels are thought by the Japanese to promote digestion. The nuts of Caryotaxus 

 are very astringent, and are employed by the Japanese interpreters, " ad coercendam 

 urinam," when they are hkely to be detained for a long time in the Imperial Council 

 Chamber. 



Fig. CLXI. 



Taxus, L. 

 Podocarpus, L'Her. 

 Dacrydium, SoL 

 Torreya, Armtt. 



ICarj'otaxus, Zucc. 

 Nageia, Gdrtn. 

 PhyUocladus, L. C. Rich. 



GENERA. 



Thalamia, Spreng. 

 Robertia, L. C. Rich. 

 Broumetera, L. C. Rich 



Cephalotaxus, Zucc. 

 Salisburia, Smith. 

 Ginko, Kampf. 



Numbers. Gen. 9. Sp. 50. 



Polypodiaceof. 

 Position. — Gnetacete. — Taxace^. — Pinacese. 



Fig. CLXI.— Phyllocladus rhomboidalis ; 1. a spike of c^ ; 2. an anther; 3. the inflorescence of the 

 ? , with a pair of flowers. 



