498 SYSTEMATIC BOTANY. 



the ovary is 3-celled, with more ovules than one, attached to the 

 central angle. But I can find no such structure; on the con- 

 trary, although the stigma is very slightly emarginate, yet the 

 ovary does not offer even a trace of two cells, but is absolutely 

 1 -celled, with 2 or 3 half anatropal ovules hanging by long 

 cords from a little below the dome of the cavity. (According 

 to Kichard, there are 6 funiculate ovules attached in pairs to the 

 middle of the wall of the ovary at the same height.) Gaertner 

 has figured what purports to be the fruit of this plant, representing 

 it to have 3 cells, of which 2 are abortive, and 2 or 3 seeds in 

 the perfect cell, somewhat rostrate, consisting of hard homo- 

 geneous albumen, and containing a very small curved cyhn- 

 drical embryo, lying obliquely, with the radicle turned towards 

 the rostrum." — Lindley. 



Diagnosis. — By some authors the genus Canella is placed in 

 the Gutti ferae, by others in Meliacese. This order is, however, at 

 once distinguished from the GutHfercB, by its general appear- 

 ance; alternate leaves; longitudinal dehiscence of its anthers; 

 absence of disk ; presence of a style ; and albuminous seeds : 

 from the Meliacece, by its unsymmetrical flowers; twisted aesti- 

 vation of its petals; absence of disk; and horny albimien. 



Distribution, Sfc. — The order is said to contain 2 genera, and 

 3 species. They are natives of the West Indies and continent 

 of North America. Examples : — Canella, Cinnamodendron. 



Properties and Uses. — The plants of the order have aromatic, 

 stimulant, and tonic properties. One plant is officinal in the 

 British Pharmacopoeias, namely : — 



Canella alba. The Laurel-leaved Canella, or Wild Cinnamon The inner 



bark of this plant is the Canella of the shops. It has been confounded (as al- 

 ready noticed, p. 439), with Winter's Bark, and hence has been called Spurious 

 Winter's Bark. It may be at once distinguished from it by the paler colour 

 of its inner surface, &c., and by its chemical characteristics. In its properties 

 it is a warm aromatic stimulant and tonic. In America it has been employed 

 as an antiscorbutic. In the West Indies, and in some parts of Europe, it is 

 used as a spice It has an odour intermediate between cloves and cinnamon. 

 By distillation it yields a volatile oil, which is said to be sometimes mixed 

 •with, or substituted for. Oil of Cloves. 



Cinnamodendron axillare, a native of the Brazils, and the other species of 

 the genus, have aromatic barks, which possess similar properties to that of 

 Canella alba. 



Natural Order 54. Brexiaceje. — The Brexia Order. — 

 Diagnosis. — Trees, with coriaceous, alternate, simple leaves, 

 and small deciduous stipules. Flowers green, in axillary 

 umbels. Calyx 5-parted, persistent, imbricate. Petals 5, 

 hypogynous, twisted. Stamens hypogynous, equal in number to 

 the petals and alternate with them, arising from a toothed disk ; 

 anthers 2-celled, with longitudinal dehiscence. Ovary superior, 

 5-cellcd ; ovules numerous; placentas axile ; style 1. Fruit 

 drupaceous, 5-cornered, 5-celled, rough. Seeds numerous, 

 horizontal, smootli ; embryo straight; albumen (?) fleshy. 



Distribution, Sfc, — Principally natives of Madagascar. Ex~ 



