MALVACEAE— ABUTILON 627 



more ; carpels 2-valvecI, 2-9 seeded ; seeds reniform. About 90 species in trop- 

 ical or warm temperate regions. Many of the species are under cultivation. 



Abutilon Theophrasti Medic. Velvet-leaf 



A stout, strongly-scented annual, 2-4 feet high, with tough, fibrous stems ; 

 leaves roundish, heart-shaped, tapering to a point, velvety; peduncles shorter tjian 

 the petioles: flowers yellow; carpels 12-15, pubescent, opening at tlie apex; each 

 valve beaked by a slender awn. 



Distribution. Common in the northern states. Naturalized from India. 



Poisonous properties. It is reported as poisonous ; the strong odor is so 

 very objectionable that it is not likely that much of the plant will be consumed 

 by stock. 



PARIETALES 



Herbs, shrubs, or trees; flowers generally complete, perfect and regular 

 or in some cases irregular; sepals distinct or united, imbricated or convolute; 

 petals nearly always present and distinct ; stamens mostly numerous ; ovary com- 

 pound superior or inferior in some; placentae mostly parietal. The order in- 

 cludes a number of important families. Caricaceae contains the pawpaw (Carica 

 Papaya) the edible fruit of which is from 6-10 in. long; of yellow color and 

 contains the alkaloid carpain Cj^H^.NO,, acting similarly to digitalis, and a 

 glucoside caricin; it also contains the enzyme papain, which resembles trypsin 

 in its proteolytic action, converting animal proteins into proteoses forming pep- 

 tones. This does not occur in vegetables. These changes do not go on in 



acid and alkaline substances, but act best in a neutral medium. The most active 

 ♦ 



changes occur best when the medium is from 53 to 40 degrees C. A similar 

 ferment occurs in the leaves of Carica quercifolia of Argentina. Caryocaraceae 

 includes gamboge (Garcinia Hanbiiryi) a cathartic; the mammey apple {Mamniea 

 aniericana) cultivated in the West Indies; the Calophylluin Calaba which fur- 

 nishes the Calaba balsam, the.mangosteen (Garcinia Mangostana) of the Moluc- 

 cas, widely cultivated in the tropics. The Diptcrocarpaceac includes the genus 

 Diptcrocarpus, which furnishes resin, and shorea, furnishes Chalia resin. "Piney 

 resin" is obtained from I'ateria and is used as a substitute for dammar. The 

 Tamaricaceae contains the ornamental Taniarix gallica, an excellent honey plant ; 

 the Tamarix mannifera from which a manna-like sugar is derived; the Fou- 

 quiera splendens of Mexico frequently cultivated and producing the ocotilla wax; 

 and the Myricaria gertnanica, the twigs of which are used as a substitute for 

 hops. Cistacae includes the rock rose (Heliantlicmum canadensc ) , the pinvveed 

 (Lecliea minor) and the Cistus polymorphus furnishing laudanum. 



The Bcgoniaceae includes the commonly cultivated genus of Begonia with 

 550 species. The Bixaceae includes Bixa Orellana which furnishes the Annatto 

 used to color butter, silks, etc. In the Canellaceae, is CaneVla alba, from which 

 is obtained the Canella bark of commerce, often called wild cinnamon and which 

 is used as a condiment in the West Indies and Florida where it is a native. 



The family Flacourtiaceae of the tropics includes a number of plants like 

 Gynocardia odorata of India, Hydnocarpus venenata and the Kiygehiria africana 

 of Ceylon, the seeds of which contain hydrocyanic acid. The cocos oil is obtained 

 from Myroxylon and is used in perfumery. The Casearia esculcnta of Asia and 

 Australia is a purgative. The family Turncraceae contains a few medicinal 



