COROLLIFLOE^. 603 



included. Ovary 2-lobed, 2-celled, with 1 — 4 erect ovules in 

 each cell. Fruit a capsule or a berry. Seeds with very little 

 or no albumen ; embryo erect. 



Distribution, ^c. — Chiefly natives of the East Indies, but a few 

 species are found in several other warm regions of the globe. 

 Examples : — Jasminum, Nyctanthes. There are 6 genera, and 

 about 100 species. 



Properties and Uses. — The flowers are generally fragrant. 

 The volatile oil of jasmine, which is used in perfumery, is chiefly 

 obtained by distillation from the flowers of Jasminum officinale 

 and grandiflorum. Tlie leaves and roots of some species of 

 Jasminum are reputed bitter, and have been employed for various 

 purposes, but generally speaking the order contains no active 

 medicinal plants. The flowers of Nyctanthes arbor-tristis are 

 employed in India for dyeing yellow. 



Natural Order 158. Salvadorace^. — The Salvadora Order. 

 — Shrubs or small trees. Leaves opposite, entire, leathery. 

 Flowers small, panicled. Calyx of 4 sepals. Corolla 4-partite, 

 membranous. Stamens 4. Ovary 1-celled ; stigma sessile. 

 Fruit fleshy, 1-celled, with a solitary erect seed. Albumen none. 



Distribidion, Sfc— Natives of India, Syria, and North Africa. 

 ExampUs : — Salvadora, Bouea. There are 4 genera belonging 

 to this order. 



Properties and Uses. — Some are acrid and stimulant. The 

 only plant of any importance is Salvadora persica, which 

 Dr. Royle has proved to be the Mustard-tree of Scripture. The 

 fruit of this is edible, and resembles in taste garden Cress. 

 The bark of the root is acrid, and is employed as a blistering 

 agent in India. The leaves are reputed to be purgative 



Natural Order 159. Myrsinace^. — The Myrsine Order. — 

 Trees or shrubby plants. Leaves coriaceous, smooth, exstipu- 

 late. Flowers small, perfect or unisexual. Calyx and corolla 

 4 — 5-partite. Stamens corresponding in number to the segments 

 of the corolla and opposite to them, sometimes there are 5 sterile 

 petaloid alternate ones ; anthers dehiscing longitudinally. Ovary 

 superior or nearly so, 1-celled; placenta free central, in which 

 the ovules are imbedded. Fruit G.esliy. Seeds I, 2, ov ma.ny; 

 albumen abundant, homy. 



Distribution, ^c— Chiefly natives of the islands of the southern 

 hemisphere. Examples : — :M£esa, Embeha, Myrsine, Ardisia. 

 Theophrasta. There ai-e 32 genera, and 320 species. 



Properties and Uses. — Of httle importance. The fruits and 

 seeds of some species are pungent. The fruit of Myrsine afri- 

 cana is used by the Abyssinians mixed with barley, as food for 

 their asses and mules. The seeds of Theophrasta Jussicei are 

 used in St. Domingo in the manufacture of a kind of bread. 



Natural Order 160. ^oiCERACEiE. — The ^giceras Order. — 

 Diagnosis, — This order includes but one genus of plants. There 



