588 



SYSTEMATIC BOTANY. 



modern times wholly disappeared from commerce, and that our Liquid 

 Storax is the produce of Liquidambar orientale of Miller. {See Liquidambar.) 

 Storax has similar medicinal properties to Benzoin. 



Symplocos.— The leaves of S. Alstonia, or Alstonia theaformis, are slightly 

 astringent. They have been employed as Tea in New Granada, under the 

 name of Santa- Fe Tea. The leaves of S. tincforia (Sweet-leaf, or Horse- 

 Sugar), a native of North America, have a sweet taste, and are eaten by 

 cattle. They are also used in dyeing yelloAV. This plant has a bitter and 

 aromatic root. The leaves of other species are also employed in Nepaul for 

 dyeing yellow. The bark of S. racemosa is likewise used in India as a dyeing 

 material and as a mordant. 



Natural Order 144. Apocynaceje. — The Dog-bane Order 

 (figs. 966 and 967). — Character. — Trees or shrubs, usually 

 milky. Leaves entiite, commonly opposite, occasionally whorled or 

 scattered, exstipulate. Cal^x 5-parted (fig. 967), persistent. 

 Corolla (fig. 967) 5-lobed; cestivatio7i contorted. Stamens (fig. 



Fig. 966. Fig. 967. 



Fig. 966. Vertical section of the flowerof Periwinkle (Vinca). 

 Diagram of the flower of the same. 



-Fig. 967. 



967) 5, alternate with the lobes of the corolla ; filaments distinct ; 

 anthers united to the stigma (fig. 966), 2-ceIled (fig. 513) ; pollen 

 granular. Ovary composed of 2 carpels {fig. 967), which are 

 generally merely in contact, or rarely united so as to form a 2- 

 celled ovary ; styles 2 or 1 {figs. 585 and 966) ; stigma 1, expanded 

 at the base and apex, and contracted in the middle, so as to re- 

 semble in shape an hour-glass, or dumb-bell {fig. 585, s) ; cv-uks 

 numerous. Fruit consisting of 1 or 2 follicles, or a capsule, drupe, 

 or berry. Seeds usually with albumen, rarely exalbuminous. 



Distribution, 6fc. — Natives principally of tropical regions, 

 but a feAv occur in northern regions. Vinca is the only 

 British genus. Examjjlcs of the Genera : — Allamanda, Urceola, 

 Apocynum. There are about 600 species. 



Properties and Uses. — The plants of this order are generally to 

 be suspected, as many of them are intensely poisonous, although 

 the fruits of a few species are edible. Some are drastic purgatives, 



