MONOCHLAMYDE^. 645 



Crozophora tinctoria, a native of the south of France, yields by expres- 

 sion a green juice, which becomes purplish by the combined action of ammonia 

 and the air. This purplish dye is known under the name of turnsole. 



Emblica officinalis. — The acrid fruit is used as a pickle in India, and when 

 in a dried state as an astringent. 



Buxus sempervirens, the Box tree, is valuable for its timber, which is much 

 used by wood engravers. Its leaves are purgative. B. balearica, the Turkey- 

 box, also yields valuable timber. 



Oiifielriia nfricana, yields the valuable timber known as African Oak or 

 African Teak. 



Natural Order 219. Scepace^. — The Scepa Order. — This 

 order is closely allied to Eupliorbiacei3e. from which it may be 

 distinguished by its flowers being amentaceous. 



Distribution, ^c. — Natives of the East Indies. There are 3 

 genera, and 6 species. The wood of Lepidnstachys Boxburghii is 

 called Cocus or Kokra. It is very hard, and is chiefly employed 

 for flutes and similar musical instruments. 



Natural Order 220. Empetrace^. — The Crowberry Order, 

 — Small heath-like evergreen slirubs. Leaves exstipulate. 

 Flowers axillary, unisexual. Calyx of 4 — 6-persistent, imbri- 

 cated, hypogynous scales, the innermost occasionally petaloid 

 and combined. Stamens alternate with, and equal in number 

 to, the inner sepals. Ovary superior, placed on a disk, 2 — 9- 

 celled ; ovules solitary. Fruit fleshy, composed of from 2 — 5- 

 nuts. Seeds solitary in each nut, ascending; embryo with an 

 inferior radicle. 



Distribution, SfC. — Mostly natives of Northern Europe and 

 North America. Examples : — Empetrum, Corema. There 

 are 4 genera, and 4 species. 



Properties and Uses. — The leaves and fruit are generally 

 slightly acid. The berries of Empetrum nigrum, the Crowbeny, 

 are eaten in the very cold parts of Europe, and are also employed 

 in Greenland in the preparation of a fermented liquor. In Por- 

 tugal, the berries of Corema are also used in the preparation of 

 a beverage which is said to be useful in febrile complaints. 



Natural Order, 221. Batide^e, — The Batis Order. — This 

 supposed distinct order only contains a single plant, the Batii 

 viariHma, a succulent shrubby species, a native of the West 

 Indies, where it is occasionally used as an ingredient in pickles. 

 Lindley considers this order as very nearly allied to Empetracere, 

 and believes that it will be ultimately placed in it. 



Natural O-der 222. NEPENXHACEiE, — The Pitcher-plant 

 Order. — Herbaceous or somewhat shrubby plants. Leaves 

 alternate, and terminated by a pitcher w^hich is provided 

 with an articulated lamina {Jig. 367). Flowers terminal, race- 

 mose, dioecious. Calyx inferior, with 4-divisions. Stamens 

 collected into a column ; anthers 2 -celled, extrorse, usually 16. 

 Ovary superior, 4-angled, 4-celle(l, Fruit capsular, 4-celled, 

 with loculicidal dehiscence. Seeds very minute, numerous, 

 albuminous; embryo with an inferior radicle, 

 T T 3 



