612 SYSTEMATIC BOTANY. 



very hard and durable wood known as East Indian Teak," which is employed 

 in ship-building. &c. 



Vitex.— Several species of this penus have acrid fruits, as those of T. trifolta, 

 Wild Pepper, y. Negundo, and V. Agnuscastus. 



Natural Oi'der 170. Myoporace^. — The Myopora Order. — 

 Diagnosis. — This order is sometimes considered as a sub-division 

 of the Verbenaceaj, from which it can be scarcely separated. It 

 only differs essentially from that order in having pendulous 

 seeds, and a superior radicle. 



Distribution, &^c. — Chiefly natives of the southern hemisphere. 

 Examples : — Myoporum, Bontia, Avicennia. There are 9 

 genera, and 42 species. 



Properties and Uses. — Unimportant. The bark of Avicennia 

 tomentosa, White Mangrove, and other species, are much used in 

 Brazil for tanning. The species of Avicennia grow like Man- 

 groves in salt-marshes. 



Natural Order 171. Selaginace^. — The Selago Order. — 

 Herbs or shrubs, with alternate exstipulate leaves. Flowers 

 irregular, unsymmetrical, sessile, bracteated. Calyx persistent, 

 usually monosepalous with a definite number of divisions, or 

 rarely consisting of two distinct sepals. Corolla tubular, 

 5-partite. Stamens 4, or rarely 2; anthers 1-celled. Ovary 

 superior; style 1, filiform ; ovules solitary, pendulous. Fruit 2- 

 celled, with 1 solitary pendulous seed in each cell. Embryo in 

 a little fleshy albumen, with a superior radicle. In Globularia 

 there is but one carpel. 



Distribution, Sfc. — Chiefly natives of the Cape of Good Hope. 

 The species of Globularia are however European plants. Ex- 

 amples : — Sela^^ ), Gymnandra, Globularia. There are 10 genera, 

 and 120 species. 



Properties and Uses. — Of little importance. The Globidarias 

 are purgative and emetic. The leaves of Globularia Alypum 

 form the Wild Senna of Germany. In small doses they act as 

 a tonic, and in full doses, as a safe, mild, and efiicient purgative. 

 They have been sometimes employed for the adulteration of 

 Senna Leaves, and it has been supposed also in the process of 

 tanning. They contain both tannic and gallic acids. 



Natural Order 172. — Pedadaceje. — The Pedalium Order. 

 — Glandular herbs. Leaves entire, without stipules. Flowers 

 axillary, usually large and irregular. Calyx 5-partite. Corolla 

 bilabiate. Stamens didynamous with the rudiment of a 

 fifth, included; anthers 2-celled. Ovary on a fleshy or glan- 

 dular disk, 1-celled, with 2 parietal placentas ; sometimes 

 spuriously 4— 6-celled; style 1; stigma divided. Fruit bony or 

 capsular. Seeds wingless, without albumen; embryo with large 

 cotyledons, and a short radicle. 



Distribution, Sfc. — Chiefly tropical plants. Examples: — 

 Marty nia, I'cdalium, Sesamum. There arc 14 genera, and 

 about 25 syecies. 



