130 DICOTYLEDONS 



of three petals each. The staminal leaves are arranged in four 

 whorls of three leaves each alternating with one another, the 

 three outer whorls producing fertile stamens with'i four-celled 

 anthers opening bj valves, and the inner whorl forming a nectary 

 of three arrow-shaped staminodes. Ovary one-celled. Fruit a 

 dark purple drupe, supported by the enlarged perianth. 



3. The Bark of the tree is aromatic, and has become a very 

 important and valuable article of commerce. The bark of 

 branches which are two or three years old is the best. They 

 are then of the size of an ordinary cane. The branches are cut, 

 stripped of their leaves, after which the bark is peeled off with 

 a knife. After removing the outer part of the bark, which has a 

 very bitter taste, the inner part of it is carefully dried, when it 

 turns brown and curls up into little rolls. 



Why is the whole branch cut when only the bark is wanted? 

 Would it not be more economical to take away the bark and 

 allow the branch to grow and add new bark for another time? 

 As we know from our lesson on the Teak tree, the sap of the 

 tree circulates in the inner layer of the bark and in the outer 

 layer of the wood. If these are destroyed, the circulation from 

 the root to the branches is stopped, and the branch must die. We 

 could not possibly, therefore, expect the branch to grow after 

 taking away its bark. 



Allied Plants. 



The True Laurel, Laurus nobilis, is a plant of the temperate 

 zone. Camphor is obtained from Chniamomum camphora. 



To this family belongs also Cassytha filiformis {Kan. Belu- 

 balli; Mai. Akagavalli; Tarn. Kottan; Tel. Pacitige), a leafless, 

 yellowish-green twiner that runs over hedges in a tangled mass. 

 If we examine it, we find thnt it lias no roots in the ground 

 (hence the vernacular names!), but that there are swellings in 

 tlic thread-like stem wherever it comes in contact with the plant 

 on which it is climbing. From these swollen parts roots come out 

 which break tlirough the bark of the host, from which the guest 

 sucks up its nourishment. Such plants are called parasites."^ 



♦From Greek /jarcr, beside, and hUoh, fond. 



