COROLLIFLOR^. 587 



the names of Ebony and Ironwood. Many species hare edible 

 fruits, and some have astringent barks. 



Diospyros Many species of this genus have hard and dark coloured heart- 

 woods, which form the difierent kinds of Ebony ; thus, from D. Ebenus is ob- 

 tained Mauritius Ebony ; D. Melnnoxylon, a native of the Coromandel Coast, 

 what is commonly kno-\n as Black Ebony ; from D. Ebenasier, the Bastard 

 Ebony of Ceylon. Coromardel or Calamander Wood, a beautifully variegated 

 furniture wood, is also procured from Ceylon, and is obtained from D.hirsuta. 

 Other species also yield valuable timber. The fruit of D. Kaki is eaten in 

 China and Japan. It is known in Japan under the name of the Keg-lig. The 

 fruit of D. virginiana, the Persimmon or Date Plum, is sweet and edible when 

 ripe, especially after a frost ; but it is very austere in an unripe state, hence it is 

 frequently employed in that condition in the United States where it is indi- 

 genous, as an astringent. The bark has been also used as a febrifuge and as- 

 tringent. 



Natural Order 141. Aquifoliace.!;. — The Holly Order. — 

 Evergreen trees or shrubs. Leaves {fig. 302) coriaceous, 

 simple, exstipulate. Flowers small, axillary, sometimes uni- 

 sexual. Sepals distinct, 4 — 6. Corolla 4 — 6-parted, imbricated. 

 Stamens equal in number to the divisions of the corolla, and 

 alternate with its segments; anthers 2-celled, adnate, opening 

 longitudinally. Ovary 2 — 6, or more celled, with one pendulous 

 ovule in each cell; placentas axile. Fruit fleshy, indehiscent. 

 Seeds suspended; enibri/o small, at the base of a large quantity of 

 fleshy albumen. 



Distribution, Sfc. — They are widely, although sparingly scat- 

 tered over the globe. Only one species, the Common Holly, is 

 found in Europe. Examples: — Ilex, Prinos. There are 11 

 genera, and 110 species. 



Properties and Uses. — Bitter, tonic, and astringent properties 

 are those chiefly found in the plants of this order. Some are 

 emetic and purgative, while others are largely used as substitutes 

 for China Tea. 



Ilex The leaves and bark of /. AquifoUum, the Common Holly, have been 



employed in intermittent fevers. The berries are purgative and emetic. 

 Bird-lime is prepared from the bark, and its white wood is used by cabinet 

 makers for inlaying. A decoction of the leaves of/, vojiiitoria constitutes the 

 Black drink of the Creek Indians. The leaves and young twigs of /./Jfl/asway- 

 ensis, the Brazilian or Paraguay Holly, are extensively emjiloyed in South 

 America as Tea, under the name of Mate or Paraguay Tea. It is remarkable 

 that Mate contams Theine, the vegetable principle already noticed as existing 

 in Chinese Tea. (See Thea, page 476). Like Chinese Tea it also contains 

 a vegetable oil, tannin, and gluten. It has somewhat similar properties to 

 Chinese Tea, but is more exciting, and when taken to excess produces a iiind 

 of intoxication. In Brazil a kind of Mate, called Gongonha, is prepared from 

 I. gongonha and /. theexcms. Mate tea is generally used in Br izil, Para- 

 guay, Peru, Uruguay, Chili, &c. Johnston estimates the consumption of 

 Mate at 20 millions of pounds annually. From the great astringency of the 

 fresh leaves of /. paraguai/ensis, I. gongonha, &c., they are used by the dyers 

 in Brazil. 



Frinos glaber The leaves of this plant, which is a native of North Ame- 

 rica, are used as a substitute for China Tea. This is known under the name of 

 Appalachian Tea. (See page .509, Viburnum.) The bark of P. verticiUalus, 

 called Black Aider Bark or Winter Berry, is employed iu the United States 

 in the form of adecoction, as a tonic and astringent. 



Natural Order 142. Sapotace^. — The Sapota or Sapodilla 



