486 SYSTEMATIC BOTANY. 



leaves, having the blade articulated to the petiole. Flowers 

 regular. Calyx and corolla with from 3 — 5 divisions, the latter 

 slightly imbricate and deciduous. Stamens hypogynous, equal 

 in number to the petals or some multiple of them, with flat 

 filaments, which are either distinct, or slightly coherent into one 

 or more bundles. Disk hypogynous, and bearing the petals and 

 stamens. Ovary many-celled; placentas axile; style 1. Fruit 

 indehiscent. Seeds solitary or numerous, exalbuminous ; embryo 

 straight ; radicle short ; cotyledons thick and fleshy. 



Distribution, cfc. — The plants of this order are chiefly natives 

 of the East Indies, but they are generally distributed by the 

 agency of man throughout the warmer regions of the globe. Ex- 

 ain])les of the Genera : — Feronia, -Slgle, Citrus. There are 

 about ] 00 species. 



Properties and Uses. — The plants of this order abound in 

 receptacles containing essential oils, which render them fragrant ; 

 hence such oils are useful in perfumery, for flavouring, and for 

 other purposes. These volatile oils are especially abundant in 

 the leaves, the petals, and the rind of the fruit. The latter also 

 contains a bitter tonic principle. The pulp of the fruit has 

 an acid, or somewhat saccharine taste, and the wood is always 

 hard, and of a compact nature. The more important plants are 

 as follows : — 



^ffle Marmelos. Indian Bael. — The half-ripe fruit is a favourite remedy 

 in India as an astringent in diarrhoea and dj'senterj\ In a dried state it is now 

 officinal in the British Pharmacopoeia, but it appears in this condition to 

 be far less active than when fresh. The bark of the root possesses similar 

 properties. Its leaves are also reputed useful in asthmatic complaints. 

 The rind of the ripe fruit also yields a pleasant perfume, and its pulp is de- 

 scribed as being very nutritious, and most pleasant to the taste ; it possesses, 

 moreover, laxative properties. 



Casimiroa edulis. — The fruit of this species is said by Seemann to be deli- 

 cious, and also to produce a soporific effect. 



Citrus. — This is by far the most important genus of the order ; the fruits 

 yielded by the different species and varieties being highly valued for dessert 

 and other purposes. The Orange, Lemon, Lime, Shaddock, Pompehuoose, 

 Forbidden Fruit, Kumquat, and Citron, ai-e all well known, although the 

 species from which they are derived are not in all cases well defined. Citi-us 

 Aurantium, Risso. — The fruit of this plant is the Sweet Orange. Of this there 

 are a great many varieties ; the most important of which are the Common 

 or China Orange, the Blood Red or Malta Orange, and the St. Michael's 

 Orange. Other varieties are sometimes imported, as the Mandarin Orange, 

 and the Tangerine Orange. The Orange tree is remarkable for the enormous 

 number of fruits it is capable of yielding ; thus, one tree will sometimes pro- 

 duce as many as 20,000 good oranges. The smaU unripe fruits of this 

 species, as well as those of the Bitter Orange, form what are called Orange- 

 berries ; these are used for flavouring Cura(;oa ; and when polished by a lathe, 

 they constitute the ordinary issue peas of tue shops. The leaves of the 

 Sweet Orange, as well as those of the Bitter Orange, by distillation with 

 water, yield a volatile oil, which is called Oil of Orange-leaf or Essence de 

 petit grain ; that obtained from the Bitter Orange is considered to be of the 

 finest quality. From the rind of the ripe fruit, by distillation with water, a 

 fragrant oil, named Essential Oil of Sweet Orange, is obtained. The flowers 

 of this species, as weU as those of the Bitter Orange, yield Oil of Neroli ; that 

 from the latter is preferred. The distilled water of these "two species is 



