THAXAXITLOE-E. 491 



perties to the bark of Canella alba. C. corlicosum yields the so-called Winter's 

 Bark, as now commonly found in commerce (see Bnmys). 



Natural Order 54. Beexiaceje. — The Brexia Order. — 

 Diagnosis. — Trees, -with coriaceous alternate simple leaves, and 

 small deciduous stipules. Flowers green, in axillary umbels. 

 Caly.v 5-parted, persistent, imbricate. Petals 5, h}-pogynous, 

 twisted. Stamens hypogynous, equal in number to the petals 

 and alternate with them, arisiog from a toothed disk; ayithers 

 2-celled, with longitudinal dehiscence. Ovary superior, 5-celled ; 

 omlcs numerous; placentas axile ; style 1. Fruit drupaceous, 

 5 -cornered, 5-celled, rough. Seeds numerous, horizontal, smooth ; 

 embryo straight ; allmrnen (?) fleshy. 



Distribution, ^r. — Principally natives of Madagascar. Kx- 

 amples of the Genera : — Brexia, Argophyllum. There are 6 

 species, according to Lindley. 



Properties and Uses. — Altogether unknown. 



Natural Order 55. Olacace^. — The Olax Order. — Charac- 

 ter. — Trees or shrubs. Leaves alternate, exstipulate, simple, 

 entire, coriaceous. Flowers small, generally fragrant. Calyx 

 small, monosepalous ; limb either obsolete, or existing in 

 the form of little teeth, persistent, often becoming finally en- 

 larged ; (sstivation imbricate. Petals 5 or 6, hypog}'nous, valvate 

 in aestivation, distinct, or adhering in pairs by means of the 

 stamens, frequently hairy on their inside. Stamens hypogj-nous, 

 5 — 10, usually in part sterile, the fertile stamens varying in 

 number from 3 — 10, of which 5 or fewer are opposite to the 

 petals ; the sterile stamens are generally alternate with them, and 

 appendiciform ; inserted upon, or outside of a conspicuous disk ; 

 anthers 2-lobed, with longitudinal dehiscence. Ovary seated 

 within the disk, unilocular at the summit, and imperfectly 

 2 — 5-celled at the base ; ovules 2, 3, or 1, pendtdous, attached to 

 a free central placenta ; style simple ; stigma clavate, or 2 — 5-lobed. 

 Fruit indehiscent, frequently surrounded by the enlarged calyx, 

 1 -celled, 1 -seeded. Seed pendulous, solitary, without integu- 

 ments ; embryo minute, at the base of abundant fleshy albumen ; 

 radicle near the hilum. 



Diagnosis. — Trees or shrubs, with alternate simple entire 

 leaves, without stipules. Flowers small, regular, axillary. Calyx 

 minute, monosepalous, generally enlarging so as to cover the 

 fruit. Petals hypogynous, valvate in sestivation. Stamens defi- 

 nite, partly sterile, and partly fertile ; the latter opposite to the 

 petals, inserted upon, or outside of a conspicuous disk ; anthers 

 2-celled, bursting longitudinally. Ovary free, often imbedded in 

 the disk; ovules pendulous from a free central placenta. Fruit 

 drupaceous. Seed without integuments, solitary, pendulous ; em- 

 bryo minute ; albumen fleshy. 



Distribution, ^-c. — Natives of tropical or of sub-tropical regions. 



