NATURAL ORDER TEREBINTHACE. 
Puate VII.—Cneorwm tricoccon. Linn. Woods. Grenier and 
Godron. 
GerneEric.—Fruit composed of from 2 to 4 nuts, each of which encloses 
2 ovules, separated by an imperfect partition. Stamens 3 or 4. Petals 
3 or 4, placed below the hypogynous disk. /owers hermaphrodite. 
Speciric.— Style persistant. Petals oblong, bright yellow. Calyx 
minute, with obtuse lobes. lowers on short axillary peduncles, bearing 
two small bracteoli, The peduncles sometimes are clustered in the axil, 
and always spring from the uppermost leaves. Leaves alternate, smooth, 
oblong, quite entire. Growth that of a small evergreen shrub, from 2 to 
3 feet high, having a strong and disagreeable smell. 
EXPLANATION OF Pate VII.—The preceding page describes Lavatera 
Maritima as a winter-flowering plant, and Cneorum tricoccon is no less one. 
It should be noticed that blossoms having their parts in fours are 
represented on the same branch with those in threes. This is actually 
the case, and may also be observed in the fruit. Fig 1 is of a flower 
with its bracteoles attached against the lower part of the peduncle. Fig. 
2, the same, deprived of its petals, showing the hypogynous disk. I 
remark that at a later stage the stigma separates into three lobes. 
Fig. 3, the fruit cut longitudinally, showing the two cells empty. 
ReEmarxks.—Cneorum tricoccon is found in dry parts of the French 
coast of the Mediterranean, and is cited as growing in Tunis and Algiers 
by Desfontaines. The localities it chooses at Mentone are much the 
same as those assigned to Lavatera Maritima. The Natural Order 
Terebinthacex, in which this plant is placed, includes many plants from 
which we derive valuable resinous juices, and, in a few cases, edible 
fruits. At Mentone we have, as representatives of the order, in addition 
to Cneorum, the common Sumach (Rhus Cotinus), with Pistachia 
lentiscus and terebinthus. These two last-named trees yield respectively 
mastic varnish and chio-turpentine. The mango (Mangifera indica), the 
hog-plum of the West Indies (Spondias purpurea and 8. Mombia), and 
the Cashew nut (Anacardium occidentale), are among the edible fruits 
mentioned above. I remember questioning an Indian officer about the 
Mango, and his replying that the best quality was very hard to procure, 
and that inferior ones were stringy and tasted of turpentine; so the latter 
deserves a place in an order of Turpentine plants. My figure was taken 
from specimens gathered in January, but more or less blossom may be 
found throughout the winter and spring. 
