m 



ORDER LXXXIIL CORNACEiE. 



A small Order chiefly confined to the Northern Hemisphere. The 

 wood of some of the species is hard and useful, and the bark of others 

 is bitter and used instead of quinine. The drupes of Cornus mascula 

 are used in the East in making sherbet. Benthamia- fragifera bears 

 a fruit resembling a strawberry, and has an agreeable taste, and the 

 Aucubas are well known in Europe as ornamental plants Our species 

 is the only one of its genus, and is known in the Cape Colony as 

 " Assegai Wood," and the wood is much esteemed. In Natal the tree 

 is not very plentiful. 



Number of species about 75. 



Flowers hermaphrodite, paniculate. Leaves opposite, 



toothed. CuRTiSEA. 



1 Ourtisea, Ait. 

 faginea, Ait. DE. 



ORDER LXXXIV. RUBIACE.E. 



A large and interesting Order, chiefly tropical, but including 

 many species which are found in temperate regions. Of medicinal 

 plants belonging to the family the most important are different species 

 of Cinchona, which yield quinine, and, Cephwl is /jMe^'ac/wa •/,/*«, yielding 

 the drug of that name. The Cinchonas are trees and shrubs natives 

 of S. America, and the Cephtelis of Brazil. Other species of the Order 

 are also used medicinally. Another and most important member of the 

 Order is Gofea arabica, from which, with some other species, the 

 coffee of commerce is obtained. Madder is the dried root of Hahia 

 tinctorum, and is used by dyers; and Gambir, which is used by 

 tanners, is obtained from Uncaria gambir, a native of the Malay 

 peninsula. Amongst our native species the woods of Burchellia 

 capensis, Gardenia TJninhergia, and Rothmannia, Plectronia ventosa 

 and Mundtiana are said to be hard and heavy ; but the trees are not 

 large, and the woods have but little commercial value. 



Number of species more than 4000. 



KEY TO SERIES. 



Ovules in cells indefinite. • Series A. 



Ovules in cells 2, collateral. Series H. 



Ovules in cells solitary. Series C. 



