464 SYSTEMATIC BOTANY. 



purposes. Some are valuable timber-trees, and some have 

 edible fruits. A few of the more important plants may be men- 

 tioned as follows : — 



Aristotelia Maqui has an edible fruit, and from it a kind of wine has been 

 also made. The fibres of the bai'k and the wood, have been used in the manu- 

 facture of musical instruments. 



Corchonis. — The fibi-es obtained from the bark of Corchorus capsularis, 

 the Jute Plant, are commonly known under the nan)e of Jute or Jute-hemp. 

 This fibre is of a very valuable nature, and is now imported in large quan- 

 tities into this country, where it is used chiefly in the manufacture of coarse 

 bags, and as a foundation for inferior carpets, &c. It is al>o frequently mixed 

 with silk in the manufacture of cheap satin fabrics. It does not appear to 

 be weU adapted for cordage, because it wiU not bear exposure to wet. In 

 India it is used chiefly for the purpose of making the coarse canvass, called 

 Gunny, which is the material employed there for the ba,gs, &c., used for 

 packing raw produce. Corchorus olitorius, commonly called Jews' Mallow, 

 is used in some parts of the world as a pot-herb. In Panama, the leaves of 

 C. mompoxensis are infused in boiling water, and the infusion is then taken 

 as a substitute for tea. 



Elceocarpus serratus. — The fruits of this plant are commonly known under 

 the name of Molucca Berries. When the fruit is divested of its pulp, the 

 endocarp, which is hard and bony, and beautifully furrowed, is used for 

 making necklaces. These are fi-equently brought as presents from India, and 

 ai-e also occasionally sold in this country. The fruits of some species of 

 Elceocarpus are eaten, while others are used in the preparation of Indian 

 curries. 



Grewia.—Gretcia sapida, G. asiatka, and other species, have pleasant acid 

 fruits, and are used in the East for making Sherbet. Grewia elaslica affords 

 valuable timber. 



Lilhea grandiflora.—The bark is astringent, and is employed in Brazil for 

 tanning leather. The wood of other species is used for various purposes in 

 Brazil, as for making soles to boots, musket-stoclcs, &c. 



Tilia europoea, Common Lime or Linden Tree.— The inner bark is used in 

 the northern parts of Europe, more particularly in Russia, in the manufacture 

 of mats, which are commonly known as Russian, Bast, or Bass-mats. This 

 Bast is one of the sutetances employed by gardeners for tying up plants. The 

 flowei-s are very fragrant when fresh, and an infusion of them is much used 

 on the Continent for its expectorant and antispasmodic properties. The 

 wood of this and other si^ecies of Tilia is very white and smooth, and is em- 

 ployed for various purposes, as for carving, wainscoting, &c. 



friumfe(ta.—Sexera\ species of this genus have astringent and mucilaginous 

 leaves and fruits, and arc employed in Brazil for making injections, which 

 are reputed to be useful in gonoiThoea. 



Vallea cordi/olia.— The leaves are employed for the pui-pose of dyeing 

 yellow. 



Natural Order 32. Dipterace^. — The Sumatra-Camphor 

 Order. — Character. — Large trees with resinous juice. Leaves 

 alternate, involute, feather-veined, with large convolute deci- 

 duous stipules. Ca{i/x 5-lobed, tubular, unequal, persistent, 

 imbricated, ultimately enlarged into wing-like expansions. 

 Petals 5, hypogynous, often coherent at the base ; cFstivation 

 twisted. Stamens numerous, hypogynous, distinct, or united in 

 an irregular manner by their filaments so as to become some- 

 what polyadelphous ; anthers innate, 2-celled, subulate, prolonged 

 above or beaked. Ovary superior, 3-celled, ovules pendulous ; 

 style and stigma simple. Fruit 1-celled, dehiscent or inde- 



