58 i SYSTEMATIC BOTANY. 



the cool parts of Europe, Asia, and North America. Examples 

 of the Gemra: — Monotropa, Hypopithys. There are 10 species. 



Properties and Uses. — Unimportant, 



• Natural Order 138. Pyrolaceje. — The Winter-Green Order. 

 — Character. — Herbs or under-shrubs, with naked or leafy- 

 stems. Leaves simple, evergreen. Sepals 5, more or less dis- 

 tinct, persistent, inferior. Corolla hypogynous, with 4 — 5 petals, 

 scarcely united at their base. Stamens twice as numerous as the 

 petals, hypogynous ; anthers 2-cened, with porous dehiscence 

 {fig. 522). Ovary superior, 4 — 5-celled. Frttit capsular, dehis- 

 cent ; placentas axile. Seeds numerous, with a loose testa ; 

 emhryo minute, at the base of fleshy albumen. 



Bistrihution, ^t. — Natives of North America, Europe, and the 

 northern parts of Asia. Examples of the Gentra : — Chimaphila, 

 Pyrola. There are 20 species. 



Properties and Uses. — The plants of this order are chiefly 

 remarkable for tonic, astringent, and diuretic properties. 



Chimaphila umhellata. Winter Green, Pipsissewa. — This herb possesses 

 diuretic and tonic properties. The fresh leaves are acrid, and when applied 

 to the skin act as a rubefacient. 



Natural Order 139. Epacridaceje. — The Epaeris Order. — 

 Character. — Shrubs or small trees. Leaves alternate, or rarely 

 opposite, simple, with parallel or radiating veins. Calyx and 

 corolla inferior, usujilly 5-parted, rarely 4-parted. Stamens 

 equal in n\imber to the divisions of the corolla, or rarely fewer, 

 hypogynous, or adherent to the corolla ; anthers 1 -celled, without 

 appendages, opening longitudinally. Ovary superior, many or 

 1 -celled ; style simple. Fruit fleshy or capsular. Seeds with a 

 firm skin, albuminous. 



Distribution, ^'c. — Natives of Australia, the Indian Archipe- 

 lago, and the South Sea Islands, where they are very abundant. 

 Examples of the Genera: — Styphelia, Epaeris. There. are about 

 340 species. 



Pro2)(rties and Uses. — Of little importance except for the 

 beauty of their flowers, on which account they are much culti- 

 vated. The fruits of many are edible, as those of Astroloma 

 humifustim, the Tasmanian Cranberry ; Leucopocion Richei, the 

 Native Currant of Australia : Lissanthe sapida, &c. 



3. Epipetalse. 



Natural Order 140. Ebenace^. — The Ebony Order. — 

 Character. — Trees or shrubs without milky juice. Leaves 

 alternate, entire, coriaceous, exstipulate. Flowers polygamous. 

 Calyx 3 — 7-parted, inferior, persistent. Corolla 3 — 7-parted. 

 Stamens, equal in number to the lobes of the corolla, or twice, 

 or four times as many, attached to the corolla, or hypogynous ; 

 anthers 2-celled, introrse, opening longitudinally. Ovary 3 — 12- 



