49 i SYSTEMATIC BOTANY. 



regular. Calyx and corolla with from 3 — 5 divisions, the latter 

 slightly imbricated and deciduous. Stamens hypogynous, equal 

 in number to the petals or some multiple of them, with flat 

 filaments, w-hich are either distinct, or slightly coherent into one 

 or more bundles. Disk hypogynous, and bearing the petals 

 and stamens. Ovary many-celled; style 1. Fruit succulent. 

 Seeds solitary or numerous ; placentas axile ; exalbuminous ; 

 embryo straight ; radicle short ; cotyledons thick and fleshy. 



Distribution, ^c. — The plants of this order are chiefly natives 

 of the East Indies, but they are generally distributed by the 

 agency of man throughout the warmer regions of the globe Ex- 

 amples : — Cookia, Feronia, -^gle, Citrus. There are 23 genera, 

 and about 95 species. 



Properties and Uses. — The plants of this order abound in 

 receptacles containing essential oils, which render them fragrant; 

 hence such oils are useful in perfumery, for flavouring, and for 

 other purposes. These volatile oils are especially abundant in 

 the leaves, the petals, and the rind of the fruit. The latter also 

 contains a bitter tonic principle. The pulp of the fruit has 

 an acid, or somewhat saccharine taste, and the wood is always 

 hard, and of a compact nature. The more important plants are 

 as follows : — 



Cookia punctata. — This plant produces the Wampee-fniit, which is much 

 esteemed in the islands of the Indian Archipelago, and in China. 



Casimura cdulis — The fruit of this species is said by Seemann to be deli- 

 cious, and also to produce a soporific effect. 



Ferunia elephantum. — This is a large tree, a native of India. A kind of 

 gum exudes from its stem, which closely resembles Gum Arabic, and it is 

 very probable that a part of the East India Gum imported into this country 

 may be obtained from it The young leaves have an Anise-like odour, and 

 are used by the native practitioners of India for their stomachic and carmi- 

 native efifects. The fruit is known unaei the name of the Elephant or Wood- 

 apple. 



Oigle Mar7nelos. Indian Bael. — The bark of the root of this plant, as well 

 as the dried unripe fruit, are astringent, and have been lately introduced into 

 this country as remedies for diarrhoea and dysentery. Its leaves are also 

 reputed useful in asthmatic complaints. The rind of the ripe fruit also yields 

 a pleasant perfume, and its pulp is described as being very nutritious, and 

 most pleasant to the taste ; it possesses, moreover, laxative properties. 



Citrus This is by far the most important genus of the order ; the fruits 



yielded by the different species and varieiies being higlily valued for dessert 

 and other purposes. The Orantie, Lemon, Lime, Shaddock. Po^npelmoose, 

 Forbidden Fruit, Kumquat, and Citron, are all well known, although the 

 species from which tiiev are derived are not in all cases well defined. Citrus 



Aurantium The fruit of this plant is the Common Sweet Orange. Of this 



there are a great many varieties ; the most important of which are the Com- 

 mon Orange, the Blooil Red, the Maltese, ;uid St. Michael's. The imports in 

 I85i from the Azores, Lisbon, Malta, and Sicily, were 300,500packaKes, weigh- 

 ing 3.i,000 tons. Other varieties are sometimes imported from the Brazils, &c. 

 as the Navel, and Tangerine Oranges. The Orange-tree is remarkable for 

 the enormous number of fruits it is capable of yielding ; thus, one tree will 

 sometimes produce as many as 20,(11)0 good oranges. Thelsmall unripe fruits of 

 this species, as well as those of the Bitter Orange, form what are called Orange' 

 berries; these are used for flavouring Cura<;oa ; and when polished by a lathe, 

 they constitute the ordinary issue peas of the shops. The leaves of the Sweet 

 Orange, as well av those of the Bitter Orange, by distillation with water, yield 

 a volatile oil, which is called Oil of Orange-leaf or Essence de petit graiii; that 

 from the Bitter Orange is considered to be of the fuiest quality. From tho 



