THALAMIFLOE-E. 465 



hiscent, surrounded by the enlarged permanent calyx. Seed 

 solitar}^, exalbuminous ; radicle superior. 



Diagjiosis. — Large trees with simple alternate involute leaves, 

 and large deciduous convolute stipules. Flowers perfect and 

 symmetrical. Cab's: and corolla each with five divisions ; the 

 former, unequal, permanent, imbricated in gestivation, and ulti- 

 mately enlarged so as to form wing-like expansions crowning 

 the fruit; the latter with equal petals, and twisted in aestivation. 

 Stamens hypog}-nous, numerous, with beaked anthers. Fruit 

 1-celled, 1-seeded. Seed without albumen ; radicle superior. 



Distribution, tfr. — Natives exclusively of the forests of the 

 tropical East Indies, with the exception of the genus Lophira, 

 which belongs to tropical Africa. The latter genus, by End- 

 licher and others, has been separated from the Dipteracese, 

 and placed in an order by itself under the name of Lophiracese. 

 The chief characters of distinction are, its 1-celled ovary with 

 numerous ovules on a free central placenta, and its inferior ra- 

 dicle. Examples of the Genera : — Dipterocarpus, Dryobalanops, 

 Vateria. There are about 50 species belonging to this order. 



Projpirfies and Uses. — The plants of this order form very large 

 and handsome trees, which abound in an oleo-resinous juice. 

 To the presence of this they owe their peculiar properties. The 

 more important plants are as follows : — 



Dipterocarpus.— The trunks of D. Icevis or turbinahis, and other species, 

 natives of the East Indies, yield, by incision and the application of heat, an 

 oleo-resinous substance, called ^Yood-oil or Gurjun Balsam. In its proper- 

 ties Wood-oil resembles the so-called Balsam of Copaiba, and is used for 

 similar purposes, and has been even sold in England for that drug. WTood- 

 oil is also used in India for painting houses, &c. 



DnjobaJanops aromatica or Camphora. — This is a large tree, a native of 

 Sumatra and Borneo. From its stem a liquid, called Liquid Camphor or 

 Camphor-oil, and a crystalline solid substance, which is named Sumatra or 

 Borneo Camphor, are derived. The Liquid Camphor is obtained by making 

 deep incisions into the tree. It is a hydro-carbon, and has an odour resem- 

 bling a mixture of Cajuput oil, camphor, and cardamoms. It has been used 

 in the preparation of scented soap. The Solid Sumatra Camphor is foimd in 

 fissures and cavities in the interior of the trunk, and can only be extracted 

 from the tree by cutting it do-rni and cUviding it into pieces. It generally 

 occurs only in small pieces, but occasionally masses weighing 10 or 12 lbs. 

 have been removed. This camphor resembles in its proix^rties the ordinary 

 officinal or Laurel Camphor. It is not, however, a commercial arti -le in this 

 country, or in Europe, because it is so highly esteemed by the Chine^-^. that 

 they will give from 80 to 100 times more money for it than that which they 

 obtain for their own camphor, which is the kind used in this coimtry, and 

 which is believed by us to be equally beneficial. The soUd Sumatra camphor 

 can only be obtained fi-om the mature tree?, while the liquid oil is obtainable 

 also from the young ; hence it is probable that the liquid oil becomes con- 

 verted into the soUd camphor as the trees increase in age. 



Hopea odorata.— This plant yields a fragrant resin, which, when powdered, 

 is a popular styptic amongst the Burmese. 



Shorea robusta is a valuable timber-tree ; it is a native of India, and its 

 wood is there extensively used under the name of Sal. A colourless, yellow- 

 ish, or brownish resin, called Dammar in Bengal, is also obtained from this 

 plant. It forms a substitute for the ordinary resins of the Coniferee in the 

 making of plasters. 



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