628 SYSTEMATIC BOTANY. 



fruit of Dirca palustris is narcotic, and that of the plants gene- 

 rally of the order poisonous or suspicious, but the seeds of 

 Inocarpus edulis are said to resemble Chestnuts when roasted. 

 Several species of Daphne^ Pimelea, and other genera, are 

 handsome shrubby plants. 



Daphne The root- bark of D. Mezereum, Mezereon or Spurge Olive, is 



officinal in the British pharmacopoeias. It may be used as a vesicatory, and as 

 a masticatory in toothache. It is however principally employed as a stimulant 

 diaphoretic, alterative, and diuretic. It owes its properties to an acrid resin 

 and an acrid volatile oil. The steni-bark possesses similar properties, but is 

 generally considered as somewhat less active. The fruit is also very acrid and 

 poisonous. The bark of D. Gnidium and D. Laureoln, Spurge-Laurel, also 

 possess acridity, and are sometimes substituted for the officinal bark, but 

 they are not so active. The inner bark of D. cannabina and other species, are 

 used in some parts of the world for making paper, &c. 



Lagetta lintearia. Lace- Bark Tree— The bark possesses somewhat similar 

 properties to that of Mezereon. When macerated, it may be separated into 

 laminae, the number of which depends upon the age of the specimen; these have 

 a beautiful lace-like appearance, hence its common name. It possesses great 

 strength and may be used for making ropes, &c. It was at one time used in 

 the West Indies for making the slave whips. Sloane states that caps, ruffles, 

 and even whole suits of ladies' clothes, have been made from it. Lagetta cloth 

 has been imported into Liverpool under the name oi guana. 



Natural Order 195. AQUiLARiACE.a;. — The Aquilaria Order. 



— Trees, with entire exstipulate leaves. Calyx tubular or 

 turbinate, 4 — 5-lobed, imbricate, persistent. Stamens perigy- 

 nous, 10, 8, or 5, opposite to the lobes of the calyx when 

 equal to them in number ; anthers 2-celled, opening longitudi- 

 nally. Ovary superior, 2 -celled ; ovules 2, suspended. Fruit 

 usually 2-valved, capsular, sometimes succulent and indehiscent. 

 Seeds usually 2, or rarely 1 by abortion ; exalbuminous. 



Distribution, Sfc. — Natives exclusively of tropical Asia, Ex- 

 amples : — Aquilaria, Gyrinopsis, Leucosmia. There are 6 

 genera, and 10 species. 



P) operties and Uses. — Some species yield a fragrant stimulant 

 resin. The substance called Aloes-wood or Eagle-wood, is said 

 to be the Ahalim and Ahaloth of the Old Testament, and the 

 Aloe or Aloes of the New. It is obtained from Aquilaria Agal- 

 lochum and A. ovata or malaccensis. It was formerly held in 

 high repute as a medicinal agent in Europe, but its use is now 

 obsolete. It is said to be useful as a cordial, and as a remedy 

 for gout and rheumatism. 



Natural Order 196. El^agnace^. — The Oleaster Order. 



— Trees or shrubs, with entire, exstipulate, usually scurfy 

 (/(/. 112.) leaves. Flowers mostly dioecious, rarely per- 

 fect. Male flowers amentaceous, bracteated. Sepals 2 — 4, or 

 united. Stamens definite, pcrigynous. Female /lowers with an 

 inferior tubular calyx, and a fleshy disk, cestivation imbricate. 

 Ovary superior, I -celled, with a solitary ascending ovule. Fruit 

 enclosed in tlie succulent calyx, indehiscent. Seed solitary, 

 ascending, with thin albumen ; embryo straight, with an inferior 

 radicle. 



