COROLLIFLOR^. 589 



united at the base, or distinct; estivation imbricate, or some- 

 what valvate. Stamens equal in number to the petals, or 

 twice, or thrice, as many, more or less coherent at the base; 

 anthers 2 -celled, roundish or linear. Ovary superior or inferior; 

 sfyle simple. Fruit drupaceous, always more or less fleshy. 

 Seeds 1 usually in each cell, sometimes more ; embryo in the 

 midst of abundant fleshy albumen, with a long radicle. Miers 

 has divided the Styracacece into two orders, called Symplocacece 

 and StyracecB, the former of which is essentially distinguished 

 by its inferior ovary, imbricated £estivation of the corolla, and 

 roundish anthers. 



Distribution, Sec — The plants of this order are sparingly dis- 

 tributed in warm and tropical regions; a few only are found in 

 cold climates. Examples .- — Symplocos, Styrax, Halesia. Miers 

 enumerates 12 genera, and about 120 species. 



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

 remarkable for yielding stimulant balsamic resins. Some yield 

 dyeing agents, but these are of Httle importance. 



Symplocos. — The leaves of S. Altfonia or Alstonia theaformis, are slightly 

 asringent. They have been employed as Tea in New Granada, under the 

 name of Santa-Fe Tea. The leaves of S. tinctoria (Sweet-leaf, or Horse- 

 Sugar), a native of North America, have a sweet taste, and are eaten by 

 cattle. They are also used in dyeing yellow. This plant has a bitter and 

 aromatic root. 



Styrax — The plants of this genus commonly yield stimulant balsamic 

 resins. S. Benzoin, the Benjamin tree, yields the well-known concrete Bal- 

 samic exudation which is commonly called Gum Benjamin. It is obtained 

 from incisions in the bark. Two kinds are distinguished in commerce under 

 the names of Sfam, and Sumatra benzoin. The former is most esteemed in 

 England. It is used in medicine as a stimulant expectorant. It is, however, 

 chiefly employed for the preparation o( benzoic acid; and on account of its agree- 

 able odour when heated, for fumigations in the ceremonies of the Roman 

 Catholic and Greek churches, and also as an ingredient in Aromatic or Fumi- 

 gating Pastilles, and in Court or Black Sticking Plaster. In Brazil other 

 species of Slyrax yield similar hahamic exudations. S. officinale a native of 

 Greece, the Levant and Asia Minor, has been supposed by many to be the 

 source of our commercial Liquid Storax, but Mr. Daniel Hanbury has proved 

 that while it was the source of the original and classical Storax, this has 

 in modern times wholly disappeared from commerce, and that our Liquid 

 Storax is the produce of Liquidamhar orientate of Miller (See Liquidambar). 

 Storax has similar medicin.il properties to Benzoin. 



Natural Order 144. Apoctnace.s;. — The Dog-bane Order. — 

 Trees or shrubs, usually milky. Leaves entire, usually opposite, 

 occasionally whorled or scattered, exstipulate. Calyx 5-parted 

 {fig. 96.5), persistent. Corolla (figs. 964 and 965) 5-lobed; 

 astivation contorted. Stamens (fig. 965) 5, alternate with the 

 lobes of the corolla ; filaments distinct ; anthers united to the 

 stigma (fig. 964), 2- celled (fig. 515); polle7i granular. Ovary 

 composed of 2 carpels (figs. 964 and 965), which are generally 

 merely in contact, or rarely united so as to form a 2-celled 

 ovary ; styles 2 or 1 (fig. 584); stigma 1, expanded at the base 

 and apex, and contracted in the middle, so as to resemble in 

 shape an hour-glass, or dumb-bell (fig. 584, s) ; ovules numerous. 



