242 LOGANIACEj^. [chap. 



6 1. Natural Order, Loganiacece. — The Strychnos Family. 



Trees, shrubs, or herbs, with opposite entire leaves, often 

 with interpetiolar stipules. Stamens alternate with corolla- 

 lobes. Ovary two- (or more-) celled, with axile placentas. 



Type — Nux- vomica {Strychnos nux-vomicd). 



A tree with opposite, broadly ovate, entire, three- to 

 five-nerved leaves, interpetiolar stipules, small, rounded, 

 terminal, cymose panicles of greenish-white flowers, and 

 orange-yellow fruits. 



Many genera of this Family may be regarded as Rubiaceae 

 with a superior ovary. Like that Family they are usually 

 provided with interpetiolar stipules. 



Some of the species differ very much in habit from 

 St?'ychnos ; but as none of them fill an important part in 

 Indian vegetation, it is not needful to refer to them here. 

 Several of the Family are virulently poisonous ; few more so 

 than the Nux-vomica itself, from the seeds of which the 

 alkaloid Strychnia is prepared. The seeds of a close ally, 

 S. potatorum, are used in India as "clearing-nuts," causing 

 the impurities of water to settle to the bottom when 

 poured into vessels which have been rubbed out widi one 

 of the seeds. 



