STYRACEA. 611 
Properties and Uses.—Many of the trees of this order are 
remarkable for the hardness of their wood, which is commonly 
known under the names of Ebony and Ironwood. Many species 
have edible fruits, and some have astringent barks. 
Diospyros—Many species of this genus have hard and dark-coloured 
heart-woods, which form the different kinds of Ebony: thus, from D. reticulata 
is obtained Mauritius Ebony, the best kind; from D. Melanoxylon, a native 
of the Coromandel Coast, that which is commbnly known as Black Ebony ; 
from D. Ebenaster, the Bastard Ebony of Ceylon, from D. Ebenum, the 
best Ceylon Ebony ; and D. hirsuta of Ceylon, and other species, also yield 
inferior kinds of Ebony. _Coromandei or Calamander Wood, a beautifully 
variegated furniture wood, is also procured from Ceylon, and is obtained 
from D. quesitu and D. oppositifolia. The fruit of D. Kaki is eaten in 
China, India, and Japan. It is known in Japan under the name of the 
Keg-fig. It is the Kaki of the Chinese. The plant fruits freely in this 
country in a conservatory or orchard house.—The fruit of D. virginiana, 
the Persimmon or Virginian Date Plum, is sweet and edible when ripe, 
especially after a frost, but it is very austere in an unripe state; hence it 
is frequently employed in that condition in the United States, where it is 
official, as an astringent. In the Southern States an indelible ink is also 
made from the unripe fruit. The bark has been likewise used as a febri- 
fuge and astringent.—D. Lotos, a native of Europe, has edible fruit. The 
bark of D. Melanoxylon possesses tonic and astringent properties. The 
fresh fruit of D. Embryopteris is powerfully astringent, and is official on 
that account in the Pharmacopeeia of India. The ripe fruit is edible. The 
juice of the fruit is also employed in Bengal for various useful purposes. 
The raw fruit of D. mollis yields a black dye. 
Royena hirsuta var. rigida, a Cape shrub, has an edible fruit. 
Order 3. StYRACEH, the Storax Order.—C haracter.—Trees 
or shrubs. Leaves simple, alternate, exstipulate. Flowers 
axillary, hermaphrodite. Calyx inferior or partially superior, 
4—5-partite or almost entire, persistent. Corolla of trom 5—10 
petals, either united atthe base or distinct ; xstivation imbricate 
or*somewhat valvate. Stamens equal in number to the petals, 
or twice or thrice as many, more or less united at the base ; 
anthers 2-celled, roundish or linear. Ovary superior or par- 
tially inferior ; style simple. #ruit drupaceous, always more 
or less fleshy. Seeds 1 usually in each cell, sometimes mote ; 
embryo in the midst of abundant fleshy albumen, with a long 
radicle. 
Miers divides the Styracex into two orders, called Symplo- 
cacex and Styracacex, the former of which is distinguished by 
its partially inferior ovary, imbricate estivation of corolla, and 
roundish anthers ; the latter having a superior ovary, valvate 
zestivation of corolla, and linear anthers. 
Distribution and Numbers.—These plants are sparingly dis- 
tributed in warm and tropical regions ; but a few are found in 
cold climates. Illustrative Genera :—Symplocos, Jacq. ; Styrax, 
Towrn. Miers enumerates about 120 species. 
Properties and Uses.—These plants are principally remark- 
able for yielding stimulant balsamic resins. Some yield dyeing 
agents, but these are of little importance. 
RR2 
