THALAillFLOR-a:. 473 



purposes Some are valuable timber-trees, and some have 

 edible fruits. A few of the more important plants may be men- 

 tioned as follows : — 



Liihea grand'Jiora. — The bark is astringent, and is employed in Brazil for 

 tanning leather. The wood of other species is used for Various purposes in 

 Brazil, as for making soles to boots, musket-stocks, &c. 



Corchorus capsularis, the Jute Plant — The fibres obtained from the bark 

 of this plant, are commonly known under tlie name of Jute or Jute-hemp. 

 This fibre is of a very valuable nature, and is now imported in enormous 

 quantiiies into this country, where it is used chiefly in the manufacture of 

 coarse bags, and as a foundation for inferior carpets, &c. It is also frequently 

 mixed with silk in the manufacture of cheap satin fabrics. It does not appear 

 to be well adapted for cordage, because it will not bear exposure to wet. In 

 India it is used chiefly for the purpose of making coarse canvass, called 

 GM«wy, which is the material employed there for bags, &c., which are employed 

 for packing raw produce. CorcAorws o/jVor/w*, commonly called Jews' Mallow, 

 is used in some parts of the world as a pot-herb. In Panama, the leaves 

 of C. ynompoxensis are infused in boiling water, and the infusion is then 

 taken as a substitute for tea. 



Triumfetta — Several species of this genus have astringent and mucilaginous 

 leaves and fruits, and are employed in Brazil for making injections, which are 

 reputed to be useful in gonorrhoea. 



Tilia europcea. Common Lime or Linden Tree — The inner bark is used 

 in the northern parts of Europe, more particularly in Russia, in tlie manu- 

 facture of mats, which are commonly known as Russian, Bast, or Bass-mats. 

 This Bast is one of the substances employed by gardeners for tying up plants. 

 The flowers are very fragrant when fresh, and an infusion of them is much 

 used on the Continent for its expectorant and antispasmodic properties. The 

 ■wood of this and other species of Tilia is very white and smooth, and is em- 

 ployed for various purposes, as for carving, wainscoting, &c. 



Grcwia sapida. asiatica, Sec, have pleasant acid fruits, and are used in the 

 East for making Sherbet. Grewia elastica affords valuable timber. 



Aristotelia Maqui has an edible fruit, and from it a kind of wine has been 

 also made. The fibres of the bark and the wood, have been used in the manu- 

 facture of musical instruments. 



Eloiocarpus serratus. — The fruit of this plant is commonly known under the 

 name of Molucca Berries. When divested of its pulp, the endocarp, which is 

 hard and bony, and beautifully furrowed, is used for making necklaces. Tiiese 

 are frequently brought as presents from India, and are also occasionally sold 

 in this country. The fruits of some species are eaten, while others are used 

 in the preparation of Indian curries. 



Vallea cordtfolia.— The leaves are employed for the purpose of dyeing yellow. 



Natural Order 32. Dipterace^. — The Sumatra- Camphor 

 Order. — General Character. — Large ^rees with resinous juice. 

 Leaves alternate, involute, feather- veined, with large convolute 

 deciduous stipules. Calyx 5-lobed, tubular, unequal, persistent 

 imbricated, ultimately enlarged into wing-like expansions. 

 Petals 5, hypogynous, often coherent at the base ; (Estivation 

 twisted. Stamens numerous, hypogynous, distinct, or united in 

 an irregular manner by their filaments so as to become some- 

 what polyadelphous; anthers innate, 2- celled, subulate, prolonged 

 above or beaked. Ovary superior, 3-celled, ovules pendulous; 

 style and stigma simple. Fruit 1 -celled, dehiscent or inde- 

 hiscent, surrounded by the enlarged permanent calyx. Seed 

 soHtary, exalbuminous ; radicle superior. 



Diagnosis. — Large trees with simple alternate involute leaves, 

 and large deciduous convolute stipules. Flowers perfect and 

 symmetrical. Calyx and corolla each with five divisions; the 

 former, unequal, permanent, imbricated in gestivation, and ulti- 



