THALA3nFL0R.i:. 



507 



Melianthus major. — The flowers of this species contain a larpe amount of 

 saccharine matter, which is used for food by the natives of the Cape of Good 

 Hope, where the plant abounds. 



Guaiacum officinale The wood, and a resinous substance obtained from it 



are officinal in our pharmacopoeias. They are commonly known in the shops 

 as Guaiacum-wood, and Guaiacum Resin. The resin is generallv procured by 

 heating the wood, either by boiling its chips in salt water, or more commonly 

 by burning it in the foim of hollow billets in a fire, and catching the resin in a 

 suitable vessel placed below as it flows from the hole in the burning wood. 

 It also exudes to some extent spontaneously, and especially so when the tree 

 is cut or wounded in any way. Both the wood and re-in are used as stimulants, 

 diaphoretics, and alteratives, chiefly in gout and rheumatism, and also in syphi- 

 litic and various cutaneous affections. The wood is known in commerce as 

 Lignum Vita. It is remarkable for 'ts hardness, toughness, and durability, 

 which qualities render it very valuable for many purposes. The foliage of 

 Guaiacum officinale is also used in the West Indies, on account of its detersive 

 qualities, for scouring and whitening floors. G. sanctum has similar medicinal 

 properties to the above, and yields an analogous resin. 



Natural Order 65. LiNACEiE. — The Flax Order {fig. 902 

 and 903). — General Character. — Herbs, or rarely shrubs. 



Fig. 902. 



Fig. 903. 



Firj. 902. Diagram of the flower of the Flax Plant (.Linum usitattssimum).—— 

 Fig. 903. Essential organs of the same, showing the monadelphous stamens sur- 

 rounding the pistil. 



Leaves alternate or opposite, or rarely verticillate, entire, ex- 

 stipulate. Flowers hypogynous, regular {fig. 902), symmetrical, 

 generally very showy and fugacious. Calyx imbricated, with 

 3, 4, or 5 sepals {fig. 902), persistent. Petals 3, 4, or 5 {fig. 

 902), ungiiiculate, very deciduous, twisted in aestivation. 

 Stamens 3, 4, or 5, coherent at the base so as to form a hypo- 

 gynous ring {fig. 903), from which proceed 5 tooth-like pro- 

 cesses (abortive stamens), which alternate with the fertile stamens, 

 and are opposite to the petals; anthers innate {fig. 903). Ovary 

 compound {figs. 902 and 603), its cells usually corresponding 

 in number to the sepals ; styles 3 — 5 ; stigmas capitate {fig. 903). 

 Fruit capsular, many- celled, each cell more or less perfectly 

 divided into two by a spurious dissepiment proceeding from the 



