670 CASUARINACEAX.—SALICACEA. 
South America, India, and the Cape of Good Hope.  IIlustra- 
tive Genera :—Myrica, Linn.; Comptonia, Banks. There are 
about 20 species. 
Properties and Uses.—The plants of this order are chiefly re- 
markable for aromatic and astringent properties. 
Comptonia asplenifolia, Sweet Fern, is employed in the United States as 
an astringent and tonic in diarrhea. 
Myrica.—M. cerifera, the Waxberry, Candleberry, or Wax Myrtle. The 
bark of the root is used in the United States as a stimulant astrin- 
gent in diarrhoea and dysentery and also in jaundice. The substance 
termed myricin is also derived from it, and is regarded as a good stimulant 
of the liver. The fruits when boiled yield the kind of wax known as Myrtle 
Wax. Other species of Myrica yield a somewhat similar waxy substance. 
The fruit of M. sapida is eaten in Nepal. Its bark is an aromatic stimulant, 
and is employed in some parts of India as a rubefacient and sternutatory. 
M. Nagi is cultivated in Japan for its edible fruit, which is eaten both raw 
and when cooked. 
Order 4. CASUARINACES, the Beef-wood Order.—C harac- 
ter.—Trees with pendulous, jointed, striated branches, without 
evident leaves, but sometimes having short toothed sheaths, re- 
presenting whorls of leaves, at the nodes. Flowers in bracteated 
spikes or heads, unisexual. Male flowers with 2 sepals united at 
their points, and 2 alternating bracts; 1 stamen, and a 2-celled 
anther. Female flowers in dense spikes or heads, naked, but 
each having 2 bracts ; ovary 1-celled or rarely 2-celled, with 1—2 
ascending ovules, and 2 styles. Fruits winged, indehiscent, 
collected together into a cone-shaped body hidden under the 
thickened bracts. Seeds exalbuminous ; radicle superior. 
Distribution and Numbers. —These plants are principally 
natives of Australia. They are called Beef-wood trees from the 
colour of their timber somewhat resembling that of raw beef. 
In general appearance they much resemble the branched Equiseta. 
Casuarina, Linn., is the only genus ; it contains about 32 species. 
Properties and Uses.—The species of Casuarina yield very 
hard and heavy timber, and the bark of some is said tu be tonic 
and astringent. ; 
Casuarina.—Several species produce valuable timber, which is chiefly 
used in this country for inlaying and marqueterie. The wood has a red 
colour, and is known under the names of Beef-wood, Botany Bay Oak, Forest 
Oak, He-Oak, She-Oak, &c. The bark of C. muricata is an excellent astrin- 
gent, and is in use in India. 
Order 5. Saticacex, the Willow Order.—Character.— 
Trees or shrubs. Leaves simple, alternate, deciduous, with per- 
sistent or deciduous stipules. Flowers unisexual (figs. 1041 
and 1042), dicecious, amentaceous (jigs. 415 and 416), naked, 
or with a membranous or cup-like calyx. Male flowers (fig. 
1041) with 1—30 distinct or monadelphous stamens. emale 
flowers sessile or stalked, with a superior (fig. 1042) 1-celled 
ovary, and numerous erect anatropous ovules on 2 parietal pla- 
centas. Fruit 1-celled, 2-valved, dehiscing loculicidally. Seeds 
