234 



EBENACE^. 



[chap. 



A small tree, with alternate, smooth, serrulate leaves, 

 and axillary and terminal racemes of yellow flowers. 



A small, widely spread Family, including but few species 

 of economic value. Some species of Syviplocos are used as 

 yellow dyes, and the bark of our Type is employed as a 

 mordant in dyeing with Munjeet. 



The fragrant resin Benzoin is the exudation of a Malayan 

 Styrax. 



56. Natural Order, Ebejiacece. — The Ebony Family. 



Trees or shrubs, with alternate entire leaves, and dioecious 

 regular flowers. Stamens indefinite. 



Type — Diospyros cordifoUa. 



A tree, with the older branches spinose, alternate simple 

 leaves, and axillary, drooping, dioecious flowers. 



The male flowers in clusters of about three, the female 

 flowers solitary. 



N.B. The stamens are very nearly hypogynous, being 

 inserted upon the base of the corolla. 



The genus Ebony {Diospyros) is the largest and most 

 important of this rather small Family, which is chiefly con 

 fined to hot countries. 



Several Indian species of Ebony afford valuable cabinet- 



