418 MAGNOLIACEiE. [Hypogynous Exogens. 



rather to be polygamous, and therefore has no claim to be regarded as an exception to the 

 hermaphrodite character of this Order ; the tendency, however, in that genus to unisex- 

 uahty con-oborates the opinion of some Botanists, that Magnoliads approach certain dicli- 

 nous Orders included in the Urtical Alhance, as is indicated by theu' large convolute 

 stipules, which are very hke those of Figs and other genera of Morads. Tasmannia is, 

 indeed, quite an anomalous plant. It is so nearly related to the aromatic Winter's Bax'k, 

 Drimys Winteri, from which its unisexual flowers and soHtary carpels chiefly distinguish 

 it, that it must follow the affinity of that plant. For this reason it seems necessary to 

 associate it with the Order of Magnohads rather than with that of Kadsurads or Anon- 

 ads. The three Orders are generally distinguished by the followmg characters : — Mag- 

 noliads are bisexual, have stipules of large size, and their flowers have an imbricated 

 aestivation. Kadsurads resemble them in all things, except the want of stipules, and 

 theu' flowers being absolutely unisexual. Anonads are bisexual like Magnohads, but 

 they have no stipules, their corolla is valvate, and their albumen ruminate. Moreover 

 Magnohads are astringent sub-aromatic trees or bushes ; Anonads are similar in quality, 

 but they are more aromatic ; Kadsurads are scrambling plants with no aroma. If we 

 regard the aromatic quality of Tasmannia, it ^^^U belong to either Magnohads or Anon- 

 ads ; but from the fonner it differs in the want of stipules, from the latter in its imbri- 

 cated corolla, and from both in its miisexual flowers. On the other hand it has the 

 miisexual flowers of Kadsm-ads, but not their habit nor their mucilaginous quahties. Its 

 unisexual flowers, however, point strongly in the direction of Kadsm'ads ; but then it is 

 not separable from Diimys, which is bisexual, and, moreover, its o\\ti flowers are in 

 reahty in many cases furnished with a central carpel. Tasmannia must then be regarded 

 as ha-song a manifest tendency towards hermapliroditism, while no such attribute is 

 known among Kadsurads. For these reasons it wdll be stationed along with Drimys 

 among bisexual Natural Orders, and then ^vill necessarily faU into the ranks of Mag- 

 nohads ; for its imbricated corolla and homogeneous albumen are at variance with the 

 most essential pecvdiai'ity of Anonads. It, however, like Drimys itself, wants the sti- 

 pules of Magnohads, in which respect it is exceptional to the usual chai'acter of that 

 Natural Order, and must be regarded as a genus stationed on the frontier between 

 Kadsurads and Magnohads. The small perigynous Order of Calycanths is moreover so 

 like Thicium in appearance, and there is so much resemblance between them in their 

 separate carpels, that, although then' affinity is by no means direct, yet we must suppose 

 that some cross relationship exists between them. According to Blume, the umbihcal 

 cord, which is so remarkably extensible in some of these plants, is wholly composed of 

 a multitude of delicate spiral vessels. 



The focus of the Order is midoubtedly North America, where the woods, the swamps, 

 and the sides of the hills abomid with the species. Thence they straggle, on the one 

 hand, into the West India Islands, and on the other, into India, through China and 

 Japan. Brown remarks {Congo, 465), that no species have been foimd on the continent 

 of Afi'ica, or any of the adjoining islands. 



The general character of the plants of this Order is to have a bitter tonic taste, and 

 fragi'ant flowers. The latter produce a decided action upon the nerves ; Magnolia 

 tripetala, according to De Caudolle, mduces sickness and headache ; and on the authority 

 of Barton, Magnolia glauca is so stimulating as to produce paroxysms of fever, and 

 even an attack of uiflammatory gout. The bark has been found to be destitute of tan- 

 nin and galhc acid, notwithstanding its intense bitterness. None of the species can be 

 said to have eatable fi'uits. Among the most fragrant are the Tsjampac or Champaea, 

 a species of Michelia so called, which is the delight of the people of Hiudostan ; the 

 Magnolia graudiflora, one of the noblest of evergi-een ti'ees ; Magnoha pumila, well known 

 in green-houses for its bi'ownish-green flowers ; while the Yulan, Magnoha conspicua, 

 is um'ivalled among northern trees for the surpassing brilliancy of its large and snow- 

 white flowers upon gray and naked branches. As tonics many have great value. The 

 Swamp Sassafras, or Beaver tree (Magnoha glauca), has a bitter and aromatic bark, 

 resembling and even rivalling in its qualities Cinchona. It is particularly useful in 

 clu'onic rheumatism, whether the bark, seeds, or cones are employed. The same 

 qualities are recognised in Lu'iodendron tuhpifera, the seeds of Magnolia Yulan, called 

 in Cliina Tsin-y, grandiflora, and others. AU the parts of Micheha Tsjampaca appear 

 to be powerfully stimulant. Of Magnoha Frazeri (am'iculata, Bartr.), and M. acumi- 

 nata, both called Cucimiber-trees in the United States, the bitter and somewhat aromatic 

 infusion of the green cones in wliisky or brandy is extensively used against inter- 

 mittent fevers, and also in rheumatic affections. The tonic qualities of these plants are 

 partly owing to their aromatic secretions, which sometimes become very intense. The 

 Aromadendron elegans of Java is one of the most remarkable, and has a great local 

 reputation as a stomachic, antihysteric, and carminative. Michelia montana bark is 



