660 



SYSTEMATIC BOTANY. 



Lambert, the Larix europcea of De Candolle, yields Larch or Venice turpen- 

 tine, and a kind of Manna, called Larch Manna or Manna de Briangon. The 

 bark of the Larch is sometimes used in tanning. 



Cedrus. — Cedrus Lihnni, the Cedar of Lebanon, and C. Deodara, the Deodar, 

 are most valuable timber trees. The turpentine obtained from the latter is 

 known in India, where it is in great repute, under the name of kelon-ke-tel. 



Araticaria. — The species ot this genus, known as A. imbricata, from Chili, 

 and A. Bidwillii, from Moreton Bay, have edil)le seeds. Those of the former 

 are extensively used for food by the natives of Chili and Patagonia. It is said, 

 that " the fruit of one large tree, will maintain eighteen persons for a year." 



Dammara australis, the Kawrie or Cowdie Pine of New Zealand, produces 

 a timber which is much valued for making masis and spars. A gum-resin 

 known under the names of Australian Copal, Kawrie Gum. and Australian 

 Dammar, is now largely imported into this country, where it is chiefly used in 

 the preparation of varnishes. D.oricntalis yielAs a somewhat similar gum- 

 resin, known as Indian Dammar. 



Juniperus ./. communis, the common Juniper. The fruit, and the vola- 

 tile oil obtained from it and other parts of the plant, have stimulant and diuretic 

 properties. Juniper is used to flavour English gin and Hollands. 'I'urpentine 

 is, however, frequently employed for the former, on account of its comparative 

 cheapness. Juniper wood has a reddish colour, and is used occasionally for 

 veneers. J. Oxycedrus.—\n France th^^y obtain from the wood of this plant 

 by dry distillation, a tarry oil called Huiie de Cade. It is principally used in 

 veteruiary medicine. Its wood is very durable. J. henuudiana is the Red or 

 Pencil Cedar, and J. virginiaua, the Virginian Red Cedar. The wood of these 

 is used for Cedar pencils ; that of the former is considered the best. J. Sabina 

 the common Savin. — The young branches, and the oil obtained from them, 

 have acrid, stimulant, diuretic, and enimenagogue properties. In large doses 

 they are irritant poisons, and have been frequently taken to cause abortion. 



Cupressus, the Cypress The wood of some species is very durable. Some 



suppose that the Gopher-wood of the Bible was obtained from species of Cu- 

 pressus and other Conifers. 



Callitris quadrivalvis, the Arar Tree, yields the resin called Sandarach, 

 Juniper-resin, or Gum Juniper. It is imported from Magadore, and em- 

 ployed in the preparation of varnishes. When powdered it is called pounce. 

 Its wood is very durable, aud is used by the Turks for the floors and ceilings 

 of their mosques. 



Natural Order 239. Taxace^:. — The Yew Order {figs. 



1026, 1027). — Trees or shrubs, with continuous branches. 



Fig. 1026. Fiq. 1027. ^'^^^ T""^^]^ "^'''''^' 



^ ^ rigid, and veinless ; some- 



times broad, with forked 

 veins. Flowers unisexual, 

 naked, bracteated. Male 

 flowers several together, 

 each with one or several 

 stamens, which are united 

 {fig. 1026) or distinct ; 

 anthers bursting longitu- 

 dinally. Female flowers 

 soUtary, and consisting of 

 a single naked ovule. 



(7rtariis tac«/^rt ).'wi"th\"umerou8^monadelphou8 which is citlicr terminal, 



ofX"a;;;7^^Th"-^"^r'/''"°",°*"'H'^'"'' or placed in the axil of a 



oi ine same. ur. 1 he succulent cup-shaped mass * r. » 



Burroundingthe solitary seed. pi. Embryo. a». bract. beed small, Cn- 

 Albumen. ch. Chalaza. ml Micropyle. veloi)Cd in a CUp-shaped, 



fleshy mass {figs. 706 and 



1027, ar), which Dr. Hooker states is formed from the outer 



Fig. 102fi. Male flower of the Common Yew 



