THE PEA FAMILY, 121 



has a good hard wood suitable for furniture. It 

 grows at Stellenbosch. 



A species in Japan, B. vernicifera, supplies the 

 celebrated varnish for Japanese lacquer-work, while 

 the oil of the seeds is used for lamps. Some species 

 in North America are very poisonous, and are known 

 by such names as poison-wood vine and oak. 



Harpephyl'lum Caff'rum. — The only species is a 

 smooth tree of the Eastern district and Kaffraria. 

 The wood is useful for household furniture, and the 

 edible fruit is called the " Wild Plum." 



General Description of the " Wild Plum " Family, 



Trees or shrubs — With a balsamic or gummy juice. 



Flowers — Complete, polygamous ^ or unisexual ; 

 sepals coherent ; petals free, enlarged after flowering ; 

 honey-disc forming a ring ; stamens, twice as many 

 as petals ; ovary, one-celled. 



DIVISION III.— CALYCIFLOK^. 



LeguminosaB. 



The Pea Family. 



This order is one of the largest in the world, 

 containing between 6000 and 7000 species of 400 

 genera in 23 tribes. 



^ A plant is called " polygamous," i.e. " many unions," when it 

 bears male, female, and bisexual flowers. 



