122 

 GYMNOSPERME^. 



Flowers in catkins. Trees. Conifere-e CLXV. 



Flowers in cones. Palm or fern-like plants. Cyoadacejc CLXVI. 



ORDER CLXV. CONIFERE^. 



A family of trees, rarely shrubs, whose uses are many and various ; 

 the timber of many of the species is in use all over the world, and is 

 known as " Pine," Deal, Pitch-Pine, &c, Turpentine is obtained by 

 incissions made in the bark, the products being afterwards refined 

 Venice Turpentine is a superior kind yielded by larix europea. 

 Rosin, Pitch and Tar are the produce of many species, and are 

 obtained from the residuum after the more volatile turpentine has been 

 extracted. Canada balsam is yielded hy Ahies halsmnina, and Gum 

 Dammar by the different species of Dammara, natives of New Zealand, 

 where the trees grow to a large size; their wood is also much used and 

 is known as "Kauri Pine," a name which is often confused with 

 " Karri," a valuable wood yielded by Eucalyptus diversicolor. Our 

 native species of Podocarpus are known as " Yellowwood," and our 

 only species of Callitris as "Cedar" or "Cypress," the latter tree 

 being found in certain parts of the Drakensberg only. 



(Ex, Fir. Cypress. Yellowwood). 



Ovules solitary or sub-solitary in lax spikes. Podocarpus. 



Ovules at bases of peltate hard scales, arranged in 



small capitate cones. Callitris. 



List of Species. 

 1 Oallitris, Vent. 2 Podocarpus, UHerit. 



cupressoides, Schrad. E- elongatus, VHerit. A-C. 



Thunbergii, Hook. B-E. 



ORDER CLXVL CYCADACE^. 



A small Order, two genera of which are found in Natal. The 

 pith of the stem of some of the species yields a sort of starch, hence 

 some of them are known as "Sago Palms;" the stems of our native 

 epecies of Encephalartos are said to have been eaten l)y the natives in 

 times of scarcity, but it is a food that could hardly with truth be 

 called either nutritious or palatable, and the name " Kafir Bread " 

 which has been applied to the plants is somewhat misleading The 

 genus Stangeria is peculiar to South Africa, and is named in honour 

 of the late Dr. Stanger, one of the earliest to hold the ofiBce of Surveyor 

 General in the Colony. 



Number of species about 75. 



