Order 67.— RUBIACE^E. 399 



Torrey and Gray. The species of the first suborder, Stellatea?, are common In the northern port* 

 of both continents; the other suborder prevails chiefly in warm or torrid legions. 



Propertie.it. — A very important family, furnishing many useful products. The madder, ona 

 of the most important of dyes, is furnished by the root of Knbia tincturia. A similar coloring 

 matter is possessed by several species of Galium. Peruvian bark, a powerful febrifuge, is iho 

 product of several species of Cinchona, viz., 0. micranthia, C. condaminea, C. lanceolata, C. m«s- 

 uifolia, Ac . . all natives of Peru. Their .febrifugal properties depend upon the presence of two 

 alkalies, Cinehonia and Quinia, both combined with Kinic acid. Ipecacuanha, the prince of 

 emetics, is the product of the root of Cephadis Ipecacuanha, a little shrubby plant with creeping 

 roots, in the damp forests of Brazil. Several other species of Cinchonetfi afiord substitutes for 

 the true Ipecac. 



Coffee is the hard albumen of the seeds of Coffea Arabica, a tree of moderate size, with a lislit 

 brown trunk, and a conical shaped head. Leaves shining, light green. Flowers white, fragrant. 

 The berries are black when ripe. Coffee is said to have been used in Ethiopia from time imme- 

 morial. In Paris and Loudon it seems not to have been in general use earlier than the year 1700. 



SUBORDERS AND GENERA. 

 L STELLATED Leaves (and leaf-like stipules?) whorled. Ovary entirely adherent, (a) 



a Flowers 4-parted. Fruit twin. Slender herbs with square stems Galium. 1 



a Flowers 5-parted. Fruit twin, fleshy and baccate. Stems square Rlbia. 3 



& CIXCIIONE.E. Leaves opposite, with stipules between the petiole3. Ovary- 

 adherent, at least the lower half, (b) 



b Tree. Flowers 5-parted, in involucrate cymes .Pinkneva. 3 



b Shrub. Flowers 4-parted, in globular heads Cephalanthcs. 4 



b Herbs. Flowers habitually 4-parted (5-parted in O. Halei). (c) 



C Flowers twin (2 corollas on one (double) ovary) Mitchellia. 8 



C Flowers not twin. — Carpels 2, 1 -seeded, both indehiscent Diodia. 8 



— Carpels 2, 1-seeded, one indehiscent SpermacocB. 7 



— Carpels 2, few-seeded. Corolla much exscrted.HousTOxiA. 8 



— Carpels 2, CO -seeded. Corolla scarcely fcx- 



serted Oldenlandia 9 



i. GA V LIUM, L. Cleavers. Bedstraw. (Gr. ydXa, milk ; the 

 flowers of G. vernm are used in coagulating milk.) Calyx limb minutely 

 4-toothcd ; corolla rotate, 4-cleft; stamens 4, short; styles 2; carpeis 



2, united, separating into 2, 1-seeded, indehiscent nutlets. — Herbs with 

 •lender, 4 angled sts. Verticels of 4, G or 8 lvs., rarely of 5. 



a Flowers yellow. Leaves in whorls of about 8. Fruit smooth No. 1 



a Flowers dull purple. Leaves (large) in whorls of 4. Fruit hispid or not Nos. 2 — 4 



a Flowers white. — Leaves in 4s only. Fruit dry. Panicle terminal No. 5 



— Leaves in 4s only. Fruit smooth, purple berries Nos. 6, 7 



— Leaves in 4s and Cs. — Fruit hispid with hooked hairs No. 8 



— Fruit smooth or nearly so, dry Nos. 9 — 11 



— Leaves in 8s, long and narrow. Fruit hispid No. 12 



1 G. verum L. Yellow Bedstraw. Erect; lvs. in 8s, grooved, entire, rough, 

 linear; fls. densely paniculate. — If Found in dry, open grounds, in the vicinity 

 of Boston, probably introduced (Bigelow). Boot long, fibrous. St. slender, erect, 

 1 to 2f high, with short, opposite, leafy, unequal branches. Lvs. deflexed. linear, 

 with rolled edges. Fls. numerous, small yellow, in small, dense, terminal pani- 

 cles. Jn. — Tho roots dye red. Tho flowers aro used in England to curdle milk. 

 §Eur. 



2 G. pilcsnm Ait. St. ascending, hirsute on the angles; lvs. in 4s, oval, indis- 

 tinctly veined, hirsute both sides and punctate with pellucid dots ; ped. several 

 times forked, each division 2 to 3-flowered : fis. pedicellate, densely hispid. — A tall 

 species found in dry woods and sterile soils, Mass. to Ind., S. to the Gulf. St. 1 

 to 2f high, acutely 4-angled, mostly with few, short, spreading branches, some- 

 times much branched. Lvs. 9 to 12" by 4 to 8", obtusish, ver}' hairy as well as 

 the stem and fruit. Fls. purplish. Jn. (G. puncticu'osum Mx.) 



3. G. circee'zans Mx. St. erect or ascending, smooth; lvs. in 4s, oval or ovate' 

 lanceolate, obtuse, 3-veined, smooth ish, ciliate pn the margins and veins ; ped. di- 

 varicate, few-flowered ; fr. subsessile, nodding, hispid. — Grows in woods, U. S. 

 and Can. St. about If in height; with a few short branches near the top, or 

 simple. Lvs. 1 to 2' by 4 to 8'. Fls. on very short, reflexed pedicels, scattered 

 along the (usually 2) branches of the dichotomous peduncle. Fr. covered with 

 little hooks as in Circaaa. Jl. — The leaves have a sweet taste like liquorice. 



