MONOCHLAMYDEuE. 629 



tubular, or top-shaped, 4 — o-lobed, imbricate, persistent. Sta- 

 mens perigynous, 10, 8, or 5, opposite the lobes of the calyx when 

 equal to them in number ; anthers 2-celled, opening longitudi- 

 nally. Ovary superior, 2-celled; ovules 2, suspended. Frtdt 

 usually 2-Yalved, capsular, sometimes succulent and indehis- 

 cent. Seeds usually 2, or rarely 1 by abortion ; exalbuminous. 



Bistribi'.tioii, ^-c. — Natives exclusively of tropical Asia. — Ex- 

 amples of the Genera: — Aquilaria, Leucosmia. There are 10 

 species. 



Properties and Uses. — Some species yield a fragrant stimulant 

 resin. The substance called Lign-Aloes, Agallochicm, Aloes-wood 

 or Eagle-wood, is said to be the Ahalini and Ahaloth of the 

 Old Testament, and the Aloe or Aloes of the New. It is ob- 

 tained from Aquilaria {Aleoxylon) Agallochum, and probably 

 also from A. ovata. It was formerly held in high repute as a medi- 

 cinal agent in Europe, but its use is now obsolete. It is said to 

 be useful as a cordial, and as a remedy for gout and rheumatism. 



Natural Order 196. El.^agnacrs;. — The Oleaster Order. — 

 Character. — Trees or shrubs, with entire exstipulate usually 

 scurfy {fig. 128) leaves. Flowers mostly dioecious, rarely per- 

 fect. Male flowers amentaceous, bracteated. Sepals 2 — 4, or 

 united, Stame7is definite, perigj'nous. Female flowers with an 

 inferior tubular cah'x, and a fleshy disk; (estivation imbricate. 

 Ovary superior, 1 -celled, with a solitary ascending ovule. Fruit 

 enclosed in the succulent calyx, indehiscent. Seed solitary, ascend- 

 ing, with thin albumen ; embryo straight, with an inferior radicle. 



Distributio7i, ^r. — They are generally diflfused in the northern 

 hemisphere, and rare in the southern. Examples of tJie Genera : 

 — Hippophae, Elseagnus. There are about 30 species. 



Properties and Uses. — Unimportant. — The fruits of Elceagnus 

 orientalis are esteemed in Persia, and those of E. arhorea, E. con- 

 fcrta, and others, are eaten in certain parts of India. Those also 

 oi Hippophae rhamnaides, the Sea-Buckthorn, which is a native of 

 England, are also edible, and have been employed in the manu- 

 facture of a sauce for fish, but their use requires caution, as they 

 contain a narcotic principle. 



Natural Order 197. Photeaceje. — The Protea Order. — 

 Character. — Shrubs or small trees. Leaves hard, dry, exsti- 

 pulate. Flowers perfect. Calyx inferior, 4-partite or of 4 sepals ; 

 cBstivation valvate. Stamens perigynous, equal in number to the 

 partitions of the calyx and opposite to them ; antliers bursting 

 longitudinally. Ovary simple, superior, 1 -celled, with 1 or more 

 ovules, ascending. Fruit dehiscent or indehiscent. Seeds exal- 

 buminous, with a straight embiyo, and an inferior radicle. 



Distribution, ^-c. — Natives chiefly of Australia and the Cape 

 of Good Hope. Examples of the Genera : — Protea, Franklandia, 

 Grevillea, Banksia. There are more than 600 species. 



Properties and Uses. — They are chiefly remarkable for the 



