630 SYSTEMATIC BOTANY. 



6-cleft, coloured, in two whorls, the limb sometimes obsolete ; 



(Estivation imbricated. Stamens perigynous, definite, some always 

 sterile ; filaments distinct, the inner ones 

 Fig. 1004. commonly with glands at their base 



(fig. 529, g,g); anthers adnate, 2 — 4- 

 celled, dehiscing by recurved valves (fig. 

 529, v). Ovary superior (fig. 1004), 

 1 -celled, with 1 or 2 pendulous ovules 

 (fig. 1004). Fruit a berry or a drupe. 

 Seeds exalbuminous ; embryo with large 

 cotyledons, and a superior radicle. 



Distribution, ifc. — They are cliiefly 

 natives of tropical regions, but a few 

 occur in North America, and one (Lau- 



Fiff.im. Vertical section o{ rus jiobilis) in Europe. Examples: — 



the female flower of Zauriis ^. y-^ /^ -n a 



nobiiis, the Sweet Bay. Cmnamomum, Camphora, Persea, Aga- 

 thophyllum, Mespilodaphne, Nectandra, 

 Sassafras, Tetranthera, Laurus. There are 54 genera, and 450 

 species. 



Properties and Uses. — The plants of this order are almost uni- 

 versally characterised by the possession of aromatic properties 

 which are due to the presence of volatile oils ; many of them 

 are therefore employed as aromatic stimulants ; others are nar- 

 cotic. Some again act as sudorifics ; and othei's are tonic, 

 febrifuge, and astringent. Several have edible fruits, and many 

 yield valuable timber. 



Cinnamomum Cinnamon which is so much employed as a condiment, and 



medicinally as a curdial, stimulant, tonic, astringent, carminative, antispas- 

 modic, and as an adjunct to other medicines, is obtained from C- xeyla- 

 nicum. It chiefly consists of the inner bark. The best comes from Ceylon, 

 and is obtained from branches of about three years old. It owes its properties 

 to the presence of a volatile oil and tannin. This volatile oil is the oil of cin- 

 namon of commerce. A concrete fatty substance is obtained in Ceylon by 

 expression from the ripe fruits, which is called Cinnamon Suet. Royle sup- 

 poses this to be the Comacum of Theophrastus. From the leaves of the Cin- 

 namon tree a volatile oil is also distilled in Ceylon. It has an analogous 

 odour and taste to that of oil of cloves. The Cinnamon tree is the Kinnemon 

 or Kinninn of the Bible. C. Cassia, a native of China, yW\A%Cassia-lignea or the 

 Cassia bark o\ commerce ; this possesses analogous properties to Cinnamon, 

 and like that bark yields by distillation a volatile oil, called Oil of Cassia, to 

 the presence of which its properties are essentially due. Cassia buds of com- 

 merce which are now much used as a condiment, are reputed to be the flower- 

 buds of the above plant. According to Martins, however, they are the produce 

 of C. aroinaticuw and C. dulce; C. Loureiri is also stated to be one of their 

 sources. Cassia-buds possess somewhat similnr properties to Cassia lignea. 

 The Cassia tree is the Kiddah or Cassia of the Bible. The bark called hidian 

 clove bark \% obtained from C. Culilawan. It possesses properties resembling 

 Cassia. Sinloc bark, which has analogous properties, is the produce of C. 

 sintoc. C. nilidum and C. Tamala yield thc/o/ia malaballiri of India. 



Camphora ifficinarmn, the Camphor tree, is a native of China, Japan, and 

 Cochin China. Camphor is obtained by boiling pieces of the roots, wood, and 

 brancliesof the tea in water until the camphor begins to adhere to the stirring- 

 rod, then the liquid is strained and allowed to stand till the camphor concretes, 

 after which it is sublimed, and the camphor which is thus obtamed is termed 

 crude camphor, in which condition it is exported to Europe, &c., where it is 

 afterwardi purified by subliming again with a certain amount of lime, after 



