THALAiUFLORiE. 439 



Japan, China, India, South America, Australia, iAud New 

 Zealand. None have been found in Africa or any of the ad- 

 joining islands, or in Europe. There are 12 genera, and 

 168 species. 



Properties and Uses. — The plants of the order are chiefly 

 remarkable for bitter, tonic, aromatic properties. The following 

 are the more important: — 



Magnolia glauca. Swamp Sassafras or Beaver Tree The bark is tonic 



and aromatic, resembling: Cinchona in its action. The unripe fruits of other 

 species, as ^fagnoliii Fraxeri AnA M. acuminata, have similar properties. 



Liriodendron tulipifera. Tulip-tree. — The bark possesses bitter and tonic 

 properties, and is used in similar cases to the preceding. 



Tcismannia aromatica, — The fruit is used in New Holland as a substitute 

 for pepper. 



Driniys IVinteri or aromatica. — The bark, which is commonly known 

 under the name of Winter's Bark, has tonic, aromatic, and stimulant proper- 

 ties. It is often confounded with Canella Bark, which has been termed 

 Spurious Winter's Bark. It was formerly much employed in this country, but 

 at present, it is seldom used. Diititys gninatensis, possesses similar properties. 



Illicium anisatum. Star-anise. — The whole plant, particularly the fruit, has 

 the flavour and odour of Aniseed It is used by the Chinese hs an aromatic 

 and carminative, and as a spice. The oil obtained from the seeds is said to be 

 sometimes substituted for oil of Anise. 



The plants of this order are also remarkable for the fragrance and beauty 

 of their flowers and foliage; hence they are favourite objects of culture 

 in this country, either as hardy plants, such as several Magnolias, and the 

 Tulip-tree ; or as stove or greenhouse plants. 



Natural Order 4. Axonace^. — The Custard- Apple Order. — 

 General Character. — Trees or shrubs. Leaves alternate, sim- 

 ple, exstipulate. Calyx of three sepals, generally coherent at the 

 base, persistent. Corolla of six petals, in two whorls, leather}^; 

 cestivation usually valvate, hypogynous, rarely united, or more 

 rarely altogether absent. Stamens usually numerous, and in- 

 serted on a large hypogynous thalamus ; connective enlarged, 

 4-angled; anthers adnate. Carpels usually numerous, distinct 

 or united, with one or more anatropal ovules. Fruit composed 

 of a number of dry or succulent carpels, Avhich are distinct, or 

 united so as to form a fleshy mass. Seeds one or more, ana- 

 tropal; embryo minwte; albumen rnminsite. 



Diagnosis. — Trees or shrubs. Leaves alternate. No stipules. 

 Calyx of 3 sepals, deciduous. Petals 6, in two rows, hypogy- 

 nous, usually valvate. Anthers with an enlarged 4-cornered 

 connective. Albumen ruminate. 



Distribution, Examples of the Genera, and Numbers. — The 

 plants of this order are almost entirely confined to the tropical 

 regions of Asia, Africa, and America. None are found in 

 Europe. Examples : — Xylopia, Uvaria, Duguetia, Anona, Mo- 

 nodora. There are about 20 known genera, containing 300 

 species. 



Properties and Uses. — Generally aromatic and fragrant in all 

 their parts. Some are useful, as — 



Xylopia aromatica {Habzelia Mthiopica), De C, commonly known as Piper 



.a^thiopicum. The dry fruit of this plant is used by the African negroes on 



f f 4 



