CALTCIFLOR^. 559 



rolla with 4 petals, and a valvate aestivation. Stamens 4, alter- 

 nate with the petals. Ovaiy inferior, usually 2-celled, with a 

 single pendulous anatropous ovule in each cell; style and stigma 

 simple. Fruit drupaceous. Embryo in the axis of fleshy albumen. 



Distribution, ^c. — Natives of the temperate parts of Europe, 

 Asia, and America. Examples : — Benthamia, Comus, Aucuba. 

 There are 9 genera, and 40 species. 



Properties and Uses. — The plants of this order are chiefly 

 remarkable for tonic, febrifugal, and astringent properties. 



Comus florida The bark of this plant is much esteemed in the United 



States ot America as a substitute for Peruvian bark in the treatment of 

 intermittent and remittent fevers. It is commonly known under the name of 

 dog wood bark. The bark of C. circinata and C. sericea are also used for 

 similar purposes in North America. The fruit of C. mascula, the Cornelian 

 Cherry, is astringent, a property also possessed by the leaves and flowers. The 

 fruit, call<^d krania. is much esteemed by the Turks, on account of its agree- 

 able acid flavour. They use the juice in their sherbets, and for other purposes. 

 The fruit of C succica is reputed to possess tonic properties. The seeds of C 

 sanguinea, the common dog-wood of our hedges, yield a fixed oil, which has 

 been used for burning in lamps. 



Aucuba japonica, as its name implies, is a native of Japan, but it is now 

 commonly lultivated in our gardens and shrubberies. It is remarkable for its 

 variegated leaves. The female plant is alone known in this country, hence it 

 never produces seeds, and can therefore only be propagated by layering, or by 

 slips, or cuttings. 



Natural Order 118. Hamamelidace^. — The Witch-Hazel 

 Order. — Small trees or shrubs, with alternate leaves, and de- 

 ciduous stipules. Flowers perfect or unisexual. Calyx superior, 

 4 or 5-lobed. Petals 4 or 5, with an imbricated aestivation, 

 or altogether wanting. Stamens 8, half of which are sterile 

 and placed opposite to the petals, and half fertile and alter- 

 nate with them; anthers 2-celled, introrse. Ocary inferior, 

 2-celled; styles 2. Fruit capsular, 2-valved, with a loculicidal 

 dehiscence. Seeds pendulous, albuminous. 



Distribution, ^c. — Natives of North America, China, Japan, 

 the central parts of Asia, Madagascar, and South Africa. 



Properties and Uses. — Unimportant. 



Hamamelis virginica yields oily edible seeds, and its leaves and bark possess 

 astringent properties. 



Rhoduleia Championi, a native of China, has showy flowers. It has re- 

 cently flowered for the first time in England. 



Natural Order 119. Bruniace^. — The Brunia Order. — 

 Heath-like shrubs, with small, imbricated, rigid, entire, ex- 

 stipulate leaves. Calyx usually superior, or sometimes nearly 

 inferior, imbricated. Petals and stamens 5, inserted on the 

 calyx, the petals alternate with the divisions of the calyx, 

 and imbricated ; anthers 2-celled, extrorse, bursting longitudi- 

 nally. Ovary superior, or half-inferior, 1 — 3-celled, with 1 or 2 

 suspended anatropal ovules in each cell; style simple or bifid. 

 Fruit crowned by the calyx, 1 or 2-celled, in the first case in- 

 dehiscent, in the latter dehiscent. Seeds with a minute embryo 

 in fleshy albumen. 



