630 SYSTEMATIC BOTANY. 



beaxity or singularity of their flowers, and their evergreen foliage. 

 The fruits and seeds of some species are, however, eaten ; and 

 the wood is largely employed at the Cape and in Australia for 

 burning, and occasionally for other purposes, thus, that Qf Protea 

 grandi flora is used at the Cape of Grood Hope for waggon-wheels, 

 hence the plant is named Wagenboom. 



Natural Order 198. Penjeace^. — The Pensea or Sarcocolla 

 Order. — Character. — Evergreen shrubs, with opposite exsti- 

 pulate imbricated leaves. Flowers perfect. Calyx inferior, brac- 

 teated, 4-lobed ; (Estivation valvate or imbricate. Stamens peri- 

 gynous, 4 or 8, alternate with the divisions of the calyx when 

 equal to them in number. Ovary superior, 4-celled ; style 1; 

 stigmas 4, with appendages on one side. Fridt 4-celled, dehis- 

 cent or indehiscent. Seeds varying in position, exalbuminous ; 

 embryo with very minute cotyledons. 



Bistrihition, cf-c. — They are only found at the Cape of Good 

 Hope. Exam])l/s qf the Genera: — Pensea, Geissoloma. There 

 are over 20 species. 



Properties and Uses. — Unimportant. — The gum-resin called 

 Sarcocolla is said to be derived from Penaa Sarcocolla. 



Natural Order 199. LAUKACEiE. — The Laurel Order. — 

 Character {fig. 1 005). • — Aromatic trees or shrubs. — Leaves 

 exstipulate, usually alternate, sometimes dotted. Flowers gene- 

 rally perfect, sometimes imperfectly unisexual {fig. 1005). Calyx 

 inferior {fig. 1005), deeply 4 — 6-cleft, coloured, in two whorls, the 

 limb sometimes obsolete ; cestivation imbricated. Stamens perigy- 

 nous, definite, some always sterile ; fila- 

 Fig. 1005. ments distinct, the inner ones commonly 



with glands at their base {fig. b27,g,g), 

 anthers adnate, 2— 4-celled {fig. 527, 1, 1), 

 dehiscing by recurved valves {fig. 527, v). 

 Ovary superior {fig. 1005), 1 -celled, 

 with 1 or 2 pendulous ovules {fig. 1005). 

 Fruit a berry or drupe. Seeds exalbu- 

 minous; emhryo with large cotyledons, 

 and a superior radicle. 



Distrilmtion, ^c. — They are chiefly 



natives of tropical regions, but a few 



Fig. 1005. Vertical section of occur in North America, and one {Lau- 



ihe female flowei" of iaztrits 7-7'\--i7< tp i \c -tt^ 



nobiiis, the Sweet Bay. rus nobilis) m JiiUrope. Jixamptes of the 



Genera: — Cinnamomum, Camphora, Mes- 

 pilodaphne, Nectandra, Sassafras, Laurus. There are above 450 

 species. 



Properties and Uses. — The plants of this order are almost uni- 

 versally characterised by the possession of aromatic properties 

 which are due to the presence of volatile oils ; many of them 

 are therefore employed as aromatic stimulants ; others are nar- 

 cotic. Some again act as sudorifics ; and others are tonic, febri- 



