570 SYSTEMATIC BOTANY. 



foliacecB'), are employed in N. America as a substitute for Tea, under the 

 name of Appalachian Tea (see Prinos). 



Sambucus nigra, the Common Elder. — Several parts of this plant have 

 been long employed in medicine. Its flowers contain a volatile oil, which 

 renders them mildly stimulant and sudorific. They are chiefly used in the 

 formation of a cooling ointment, and in the preparation of Elder Flower 

 Water. The inner bark and the leaves, have more or less purgative and 

 emetic properties. The fruit is also mildly aperient and diuretic. It is ex- 

 tensively used for the purpose of adulterating Port-wine, and in the manu- 

 facture of a kind of wine, which is commonly known as Elder Wine. 



Natural Order 123. — Cinchonace^. — The Cinchona Order. 

 GeneralCharacte r. — Trees, shrubs, or herbs. Leaves simple 

 (^fig. 359), entire, opposite, with interpetiolar stipules. Inflores- 

 cence cymose. Calyx superior, with the limb 4 — 6-toothed, or 

 entire. Corolla monopetalous, regular, tubular, with its lobes corre- 

 sponding in number to the teeth of the calyx. Stamens inserted 

 upon the corolla, and equal in number to its lobes, with which 

 they are alternate. Ovary inferior, crowned by a disk, usually 

 2-celled, or sometimes many-celled; style 1, sometimes slightly 

 divided; stigma simple or divided. Fruit inferior, many-celled, 

 or usually 2-celled, dry or succulent, indehiscent, or separating 

 into 2 dry cocci. Seeds 1, 2 or more in each cell, when few, 

 they are erect or ascending, or when numerous, then attached 

 to axile placentas ; embryo small, in horny albumen. 



Diagnosis. — Trees, shrubs, or herbs, with opposite, simple, 

 entire leaves, and interpetiolar stipules. Calyx superior. 

 Corolla regular. Stamens equal in number to the teeth of the 

 calyx and segments of the corolla, with the latter of which they 

 are alternate, epipetalous. Ovary inferior, 2 or more celled. 

 Fruit inferior. Seeds 1 or more, with horny albumen. 



Division of the Order, Sfc. — The Cinchonacea; may be divided 

 into two sub -orders as follows : — 



Sub-order 1. Coffeoi. — Ovary with 1 or 2 seeds only in each cell. 



Examples : — Pomax, Coprosma, Richardsonia, Cephaelis, 



Psychotria, Coffca, Ixora, Morinda, Guettarda. 

 Sab-order 2. Cinchonece. — Ovary many-seeded. Examples: 



— Rondeletia, Exostemma, Cinchona, Nauclea, Gardenia, 



Genipa. 



Distribution, Sfc. — They are almost exclusively natives of 

 tropical and warm regions. There are 318 genera, and about 

 2550 species. 



Properties and Uses. — The properties of the plants of this 

 extensive order are very important to man, furnishing him with 

 many valuable medicinal agents, as well Jis substances useful in 

 the arts and domestic economy. Thus, many possess tonic, 

 febrifugal, astringent, emetic, or purgative properties; a few are 

 vahiablc dyeing and tanning agents, and others have edible 

 fruits and seeds. A few arc reputed to have intoxicating, and 

 in some cases, even poisonous properties. Various species are 



