COEOLLIFLOEJE. 



603 



only plant of importance is Salvadora jxrsica, which Dr. Eoyle 

 has proved, to be the Mustard-tree of Scriptui-e. The fruit of 

 this is edible, and. resembles in taste garden Cress. The bark 

 of the root is acrid, and is employed as a blistering agent in 

 India. The leaves are reputed to be purgative. 



Natural Order 159. jMyrsixace.^. — The Myrsine Order. — 

 Character. — Trees or shrubby plants. Leaves coriaceous, 

 smooth, exstipulate. Flowers small, perfect or imisexual. Ca^yx 

 and corolla 4 — o-partite. Stame7is corresponding in number to 

 the segments of the corolla and opposite to them, sometimes 

 there are 5 sterile petaloid alternate ones ; anthers dehiscing 

 longitudinally. Ovary superior or nearly so, 1-celled; ijleicenta 

 free central, in which the ovules are imbedded. Fruit fleshy. 

 Seeds 1, 2, or many; albumen abundant, horny. 



Distribution, (^'c. — Chiefly natives of the islands of the southern 

 hemisphere. F^amples of the Genera : — Myrsine, Ardisia, 

 Theophrasta. There are above 300 species. 



Froperties and Uses. — Of little importance. The fruits and 

 seeds of some species are pungent. The fruit of Myrsine afri- 

 cana is used by the Abyssinians mixed with barley, as food for 

 their asses and mides. The seeds of Theophrasta Jussim are 

 used in St. Domingo in the manufacture of a kind of bread. 



Natural Order 160. ^giceeace^. — The -3tgiceras Order. — 

 Diagnosis. — This order includes but one genus of plants. There 

 are 5 species ; these inhabit se^i-shores in tropical regions, and 

 root from their seed-vessels into the mud, like Mangroves. The 

 genus jEyiceras diflfers from Myrsinacege in its anthers dehiscing 

 transversely ; in having follicular fruit ; and in the seeds being 

 without albumen. 



Natural Order 161. Primulace.e. — The Primrose Order. 

 {/igs. 984-986). — Character. — Herbs. Leaves {fg. 368) 



Fig. 984. Fig.d^b. 



Fig. 986. 



Fig. 984. Flower of Pimpernel {Anagallis). e. Calrx. p. 



Petals, s. Stamens. Fig. 985. Vertical section of the 



flower. J)/. Free central placenta, s. Style and capitate 



stigma. Fig. 986. Vertical section of the seed of the 



Primula elatior. t. Integuments, p. Alhumeu. e. Embryo. 

 h. Hilum. 



