682 SYSTEMATIC BOTANY. 



portant, although some have a reputation as anthelmintics and 

 dim-etics. The pale cellular tissue at the base of some of the 

 leaves of certain species are occasionally eaten. The chief use 

 to which the plants of this order are applied is, in making floor- 

 mats, and for the bottoms of chairs, &c. The leaves of the 

 species of Juncus are employed for these purposes. The pith of 

 the fistular leaves of Junci are employed for the wicks of rush- 

 lights. 



Natural Order 268. Orontiace.*; or AcoKACEiE.— The Oron- 

 tium or Sweet-flag Order. — Herbaceous plants. Flowers perfect, 

 arranged on a spadix, and with or without a spathe. Perianth 

 absent, or composed of scales, which are inferior. Stamens 

 equal in number to the scales of the perianth, 4—8, hypo- 

 gynous or perigynous. Ovary superior, 1 or more celled. Fruit 

 baccate. Seed with an axile embryo which is cleft on one 

 side; usually with fleshy or mealy albumen, rarely without 

 albumen. This order is commonly regarded as a division of the 

 Aracege, but we place it here according to the views of Lindley, 

 on account of its plants possessing perfect flowers. 



Distribution, ^c. — They are found in cold, temperate, and 

 tropical regions. Examples:— Calla, Dracontium, Symplocarpus, 

 Orontium, Acorus. There are 18 genera, and about 70 species. 



Properties and Uses. — The generality of the plants of this 

 order have acrid properties. The acridity may usually be got 

 rid of by drying and by heat, and then the rhizomes of some 

 species may be eaten. Some are aromatic stimulants ; others 

 antispasmodic, expectorant, and diaphoretic. 



Calla palu^tris has acrid rhizomes, but by drying, washing, grinding, and 

 baking, they have bepn made into a kind of bread in Lapland. 



Syinplocaipus fcctidus. Skunk Cabbage. — The root has a very foetid odour, 

 especially when fresh. It is considered in the United States as an etficacious 

 nervous "stimulant, and has been used in spasmodic asthma, hooping-cougii. 

 catarrh in old people, and in other diseases. Its properties are much impaired 

 by keeping. 



Acorus Calamus, Sweet Flag. — The rhizome is an aromatic stimulant, 

 and is regarded by some as a valuable medicine in agues, and as a useful 

 adjunct to other stimulants and bitter tonics. It is reputed to be sometimes 

 employed by the rectifiers of gin. The volatile oil which may be obtained 

 from it by distillation, is employed for scenting snuff, and in the preparation of 

 aromatic vinegar. 



Natural Order 269. Palmace^e. — The Palm Order {figs. 

 1054—10.59) — Trees or shrubs, with simple {fi(/.l78, 1) or 

 rarely branched trunks (Jig. 185). Leaves terminal (figs. 

 178 and 185), large, with sheathing stalks. Flowers perfect 

 (figs. 1056 and 1057), or unisexual (figs. 1054 and 1055), 

 arranged generally on a branched spadix (fig. 394), which is 

 enclosed by a spathe. Perianth inferior, in two whorls, each of 

 which is composed of three parts (figs. 1054 and 1055). Sta- 

 mens 6 (figs. 1054 and 1055), 3, or numerous, perigynous. Ovary 

 superior (figs, 1056 and 1057), i—3-(figs. 1055 and 1057) 



