440 SYSTEMATIC BOTANY. 



nccount of its stimulant and carminative elTects, and also as a condiment. 

 Xylopia undulala has nearly similar properties. Xi/lopia glabra yields the Bitter 

 wood of the West Indies, which has tonic properties. 



Uvaria febrifuga — The fruit of this species is supposed to be the one which 

 is used as a febrifupe by the Indians on the Orinoco ; according to Martius 

 however, that is obtained from the Xylopia grandiflora. 



Ccelocline ( Unona) polt/carpa, D. C. — The Berberine or Yellow-dye tree 

 of Soudan. — The bark of this tree yields a beautiful yellow colour, which 

 is much used as a dyeing material in certain parts of Africa. When reduced 

 to a coarse powder, it is also a topical remedy of great repute, in the treatment 

 of indolent ulcers, and chronic leprous sores of the extremities. It contains 

 Berberine. to which its medicinal virtues are probably due. 



Duguftia quitarensis . — According to Schomburgh, the strong elastic wood 

 called Lance-wood, chiefly used by coachmakers, is furnished by this plant, 

 which is a native of Guiana. 



Anona squamosa and miiricata, yield the delicious succulent fruits of the 

 East and West Indies, called Custard Apples ; that of A. squamosa is called 

 Sweet-sop ; that of A. muricata. Sour- sop. Other species are also esteemed 

 for their fruirs, as ^«ow« reticulata, which yields the netted Custard-apple, 

 and A. Cherimolia, w hich produces the Cherimnyer of Peru. Another species, 

 namely A.palustris, is the source of West Indian Cork-wood, so called from 

 itselnsticity and lightness. 



Monodora Myristica, the Calabash Nutmeg, has similar aromatic qualities 

 to the true Nutmeg of commerce. 



Natural Order 5. Lardizabalaceje. — The Larclizabala Order. 



— General Character, — Shrubs of a twining habit. Leaves 

 alternate, exstipulate, compound. Flowers unisexual. Barren 



flower: — Calyx and corolla with a ternary arrangement of their 

 parts, each in one or two whorls, deciduous. Stamens G, opposite 

 the petals, usually monadelphous, sometimes distinct. Rudimen' 

 taty ovaries 2 or 3. Fertile flower : — Calyx and corolla as before, 

 but larger, hypogynous. Stamens 6, very imperfect and sterile. 

 Carpels distinct, generally .3, rarely 6 or 9, 1 -celled; ovules usually 

 numerous, rarely 1, imbedded on the inner surface of the ovary., 

 Fruit baccate, or sometimes follicular. Seed with usually a 

 minute embryo in a lai'ge quantity of solid albumen. 



Diagnosis. — Twining shrubs. Leaves alternate, exstipulate, 

 compound. Unisexual flowers. Carpels distinct, superior. 

 Seeds parietal, imbedded; embryo usually minute with abundant 

 homogeneous albumen. 



Distribution, Sfc, — There are but 7 genera, and 15 species, be- 

 longing to this order ; of which, according to Lindley, two 

 genera inhabit the cooler parts of South America, one is a tro- 

 pical form, and the remainder arc from the temperate parts of 

 China. Examples : — Burasaia, Ilolboelliji, Stauntonia, Lardizabala. 



Properties and Uses. — The plants of this order appear to be 

 without any active properties. Some have edible fruits. Others 

 have been introduced into our greenhouses as evergreen 

 climbers. 



Natural Order 6. SciiizANDRACEyE. — The Schizandra Order. 



— Crcncral Cliuracter. — Trailing shrubs. Leaves alternate, 

 exstipulate, simple, often dotted. Flowers unisexual. Calyx and 

 corolla with a ternary arrangement of their jiarts, hypogynous, 

 imbricated. Barren floiver : — Stamens numerous, monadelphous 



