LORANTHACE. 687 
Ilex, a South European species, is also employed by tanners.— Quercus 
sinensis, a native of China, yields a dye.— Quercus coccifera, the Kermes 
Oak, has its young branches attacked by a species of Coccus, by which little 
reddish balls are formed upon their surface, which were formerly much 
used as a crimson dve. The young branches of Oak trees are especially 
liable to be punctured by insects, by which the morbid excrescences com- 
monly called gulls are produced. ‘The more important of these excrescences 
form the Nut Gails of commerce; they are produced on the branches of 
Quercus lusitanica, var. infectoria by the Cysips Galle tinctorix. They 
are alone official in the British Pharmacopee: , and are also extensively 
employed in tanning, for the preparation of the official tannic and gallic 
acids, for making ink, and for other purposes in the arts. They likewise 
possess tonic, astringent, and antiperiodic properties. Pereira also regarded 
them as a valuable antidote in poisoning by tartar emetic. The best Nut 
Galls come from the Levant. Two kinds are commonly distinguished under 
the names of blue and white galls. The dark-coloured galls, which are 
imperforate, are the most valuable. The round smooth galls, now frequently 
found on the lower branches of the Oaks in this country, although containing 
tannic acid, are far less valuable than commercial nut- galls. These are 
formed by the Cynips Kollari of Giraud. The large (alls known as Mecca 
or Bussorah Galls, Dead Sea Apples, and Apples of Sodom, are said to be 
produced on Q. lusitanica by Cynips insana ‘The acorns of some species of 
Quercus, as Q. Ballota, Q. Gramuntia, Q. sculus, and Q. Hindsii, are 
edible; also those of Q. cornea in China, and of Q. cuspidata in Japan. 
Cohort 3. Santalales—Flowers hermaphrodite or unisexual. 
Calyx usually conspicuous, coloured, valvate in estivation. 
Stamens equal in number to, and opposite the lobes of, the 
calyx. Ovary inferior, mostly 1-celled ; ovules 1 or more, 
devoid of integuments. Fruit usually baccate or drupaceous. 
Seed solitary, albuminous. Usually parasitic herbs or shrubs. 
Leaves, when present, entire. 
Order 1. LoRANTHACES, the Mistletoe Order.— Character. 
—Farasitic shrubs. Leaves greenish, commonly opposite, ex- 
stipulate. lowers hermaphrodite, or unisexual and dicecious. 
Calyx superior, with 4—8 divisions; e&stivation valvate ; some- 
times absent. Stamens equal in number to, and opposite the 
lobes of, the calyx. Ovary inferior, 1-celled, with 3 ovules, 
suspended from a free-central placenta, or 1 erect and arising 
from the base of the ovary. Fruit commonly succulent, 1-celled, 
with a solitary seed ; embryo in fleshy albumen, with the radicle 
remote from the hilum. 
Distribution and Numbers.—They are principally found in 
the hotter parts of America and Asia. Three species are natives 
of Europe, and a few occur in Africa and some other regions. 
Illustrative Genera: —Myzodendron, Sol.; Viscum, Towrn.; 
Loranthus, Linn. There are above 400 species. 
Properties and Uses.—Unimportant. Some are astringent. 
Loranthus tetrandus, a native of Chili, produces a black dye. 
Viscum album is the common Mistletoe. It is parasitic cn many trees 
in this country, as Willows, Thorns, Limes, Elms, Oaks, Firs, and especially 
