DILLENIACEHX.— CALYCANTHACEA, 433 
seeds, or those of another species used by the Afghans for flavouring curries, 
form the Black Cummin of Scripture (Isaiah xxviii. 25, 27). 
Ranunculus.—R. sceleratus and R. Flammula are very acrid, which pro- 
perty is also possessed to a certain extent by many other species.—R. 
Ficaria has thickened roots which contain a good deal of starch; hence 
they have been used as food. 
Xanthorrhiza apiifolia.—The root has a pure bitter taste, and possesses 
well-marked tonic properties. It is also used by the Indians in the southern 
parts of the United States asa yellow dye. It contains berberine as a con- 
stituent. 
Many plants of the order are commonly cultivated in our gardens ; as 
various species of Clematis, Anemone, Ranunculus, Eranthis (Winter Aco- 
nite), Helleborus (Christmas Rose), Aquilegia (Columbine), Delphinium 
(Larkspur), Aconitum (Monkshood), Pxonia (Peony). Pwonia Moutan or 
Moutan officinalis is the Tree Peony of China, which is remarkable for its 
very large showy flowers, and for the number of its blossoms : thus, Fortune 
mentions a plant in the neighbourhood of Shanghai which yearly produced 
from 300 to 400 flowers. 
Order 2. DILLENIACE, the Dillenia Order.— Character. 
— Trees, shrubs, or rarely herbs. Leaves usually alternate, very 
rarely opposite, generally exstipulate. Sepals 5, persistent, in 
tworows. Petals5, deciduous, hypogynous, imbricate. Stamens 
numerous, hypogynous. Carpels 2—5, rarely 1, more or less 
distinct. Frwit formed of from 2—5 distinct or adherent carpels, 
rarely 1. Seeds numerous, or 2 or 1 by abortion, anatropous, 
arillate ; albumen homogeneous, fleshy ; embryo minute. 
Diagnosis.—Stipules absent, except in rare cases. Sepals 
and petals 5 each, hypogynous ; the former persistent in two 
rows, the latter with an imbricate zstivation. Carpels more 
or less distinct. Seeds numerous, arillate; albumen fleshy, 
homogeneous. 
Distribution and Numbers.—The plants of this order occur 
chiefly in Australia, India, and equinoctial America ; a few species 
have been also found in equinoctial Africa ; none occur in Europe. 
Illustrative Genera :—Dillenia, Linn.; Candollea, Labill. There 
are nearly 200 species belonging to this order. 
Properties and Uses.—These plants have generally astringent 
properties ; they have been used as vulneraries, and for tanning 
in Brazil. 
Dillenia.—The young calyces of some species have an acid taste and are 
employed as an ingredient of curries in some parts of India. Some species 
of Dillenia grow to a large size, and form hard durable timber. 
Most of the Indian species belonging to the genus Di/lenia are remark- 
able not only for their evergreen foliage, but also for the beauty of their 
flowers. They are sometimes cultivated as stove or greenhouse plants in 
this country. 
Order 3. CALYCANTHACE®, the Calycanthus Order.—Dia- 
gnosis.—These are shrubby plants resembling the Rosacex, but 
they differ in having opposite leaves, which are always simple, 
entire, and exstipulate ; in their sepals and petals being numer- 
ous, and similar in appearance ; in having stamens whose anthers 
are adnate, and turned outwards; and by having convolute 
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