628 SYSTEMATIC BOTANY. 



are used for food on the Eio Negro, &c., in South America, and 

 other plants of the order are eaten by cattle and fish. 



Natural Order 194. TnYMELACEiE. — The Mezereon Order {fig. 

 1004). — Character. — Shrubs or very rarely herbs. Leaves 

 entire, exstipulate. Flowers perfect {fig. 

 Fig. 1004. 1004), or rarely unisexual. Calyx inferior 

 {fig. 1004), coloured, tubular, 4 — 6-lobed; 

 atstivation imbricate. Stamens perigynous 

 {fig. 1004), twice as many as the divisions 

 of the calyx, or equal in number to them, or 

 fewer, in the two latter cases they are oppo- 

 site to the lobes of the calyx ; anthers 2- 

 celled {fig. 1004), bursting longitudinally. 

 Ovary superior {fig. 1004), simple, 1 -celled, 

 with a solitary suspended ovule {fig. 71o). 

 Fruit dry and nut-like, or drupaceous. Seed 

 suspended ; albumen none, or but small in 

 quantity ; embryo straight, with a superior 

 Fig. 1004. Vertical ra(liele 

 sectiou of the flower '.,'.,,. - mu ^ j 



of a species of Distribution, 8fc. — Ihey are found more or 

 Daphne. ^ess abundantly in all parts of the world, but 



especially in Australia and the Cape of Good Hope. Examples 

 of the Genera: — Daphne, Pimelea, Lagetta. There are about 

 300 species. 



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

 remarkable for the toughness and acridity of their bark. The 

 fruit of JDlrca 'palustris is narcotic, and that of the plants gene- 

 rally of the order poisonous or suspicious, but the seeds of 

 Inocarpus edidis are said to resemble Chestnuts in flavour 

 when roasted. Several species of Daphne, Pimelea, and other 

 genera, are handsome shrubby plants. 



Dap?ine.—T\\e dried bark of D. Mezereum, Mezereon, and D. Laureola, 

 Spurge Laurel, is officinal in the British Pharmacopoeia. Both the root- 

 bark and stem-bark are officinal, but the former is the more powerful. 

 Mezereon bark, as it is commouly called, may be used as a vesicatory, and 

 as a masticatory in toothache. It is however principally employed as a 

 stimulant diaphoretic, alterative, and diuretic. It owes its properties to an 

 aciid resin and an acrid volatile oil. The fruit is also very acrid and 

 poisonous. The bark of Z». Gnidinm is likewise of an acrid nature, and is 

 sometimes substituted for the officinal bark, but it is not so active. The 

 inner bark of D. cannahina and other species is used in some parts of the 

 world for making paper, &c. 



Lagetta lintearia, Lace-Bark Tree. — The bark possesses, in some degree, 

 similar properties to that of Mezereon. When macerated, it may be separated 

 into laminte, the number of which depends upon the age of the specimen ; 

 these have a beautiful lace-like appearance, hence its common name. It 

 possesses great strength and may be used for making ropes, &c. It was at 

 one time employed in the West Indies for malving the slave whips. Sloane 

 states that caps, ruffles, and even whole suits of ladies' clothes, have been 

 made from it. Lagetta cloth has been imported into Liverpool under the 

 of guana. 



Natural Order 195. Aquilariaceje. — The Aquilaria Order. 

 ■ — Character. — Trees, with entire exstipulate leaves. Calyx 



