Illicium.'] FLORA INDICA. 73 



away. In many species, indeed, this leaf is occasionally developed, and in some it 

 is normally so. 



The nature of the integuments of the seed in Magnoliacece has generally been 

 misunderstood, except by Gartner, whose account is quite accurate. The true struc- 

 ture has recently been pointed out by Asa Gray (Genera of N. Am. Plants, i. 61). 

 The outermost coat, which is fleshy, and often of a bright scarlet colour, has gene- 

 rally been considered an arillus ; it has, however, been traced by Asa Gray to the 

 primine of the ovule, and correctly regarded as testa. It is traversed in its whole 

 length from the hilum to the chalaza at the opposite end of the seed by the rhaphe. 

 The inuer crustaceous coat, usually considered as testa, is conspicuously marked at 

 the end most remote from the hilum by the chalaza. A third coat may be distin- 

 guished, consisting of a very delicate membrane, which adheres pretty firmly to the 

 albumen. 



Dr. Wallich appears to have made a curious mistake as to the position of the em- 

 bryo, unless indeed (in the Tent. Fl. Nap. p. 4) for ' umbilicus internum? we ought to 

 read ' externusf in which case his view would be the same as that suggested by filume 

 (Fl. Java, p. 9), that the true hilum is where the brittle seed-coat is inserted into 

 the fleshy one, — a view which is manifestly only tenable on the supposition that the 

 latter is arillus. 



The lateral position of the rhaphe with respect to the ovule and seed is worthy of 

 note. It is well represented by Mr. Sprague in the plates of Asa Gray's work just 

 quoted, but is not noticed in the text. 



The plants of this family are all more or less aromatic, and their flowers have 

 often an extremely powerful perfume. The Himalayan species are large trees, and 

 yield valuable timber. The bark of many of the American species possesses bitter and 

 tonic qualities, but none of those of India are known to do so. In the tribe Jlliciece 

 these tonic and aromatic properties are more marked ; but their presence in the whole 

 Order is indicated by the transparent dots of the flower, and by the glandular mark- 

 ings of the woody tissue. 



The species of Ulagnoliacea are chiefly natives of mountainous countries. They 

 are probably more abundant in Western China, in eastern continental India, and in 

 the Indian Archipelago, than in any other part of the world. Many species occur 

 in the more humid parts of the temperate Himalaya, but one only extends as far 

 west as Kumaon. The western peninsula produces only two species, and Ceylon not 

 more than one. From China several extend to Japan. North America, excluding 

 Mexico, which seems to contain several species of this family, produces eight species. 

 A few are natives of the West Indies and the mountainous parts of tropical South 

 America. In Africa they appear to be entirely wanting. 



Tribus L Wintered, E. Br. 



Ovaria simplici serie verticillata vel solitaria. Stipula nulke. 



1. ILLICIUM, L. 



Mores hermaphroditic Sepala et petala 12-36, multiserialia. Sta- 

 mina nuinerosa, antheris adnatis. Ovaria 6-15, stylo subulato intus 

 stigmatoso apiculata. Ovula solitaria, e basi loculi adscendentia. 

 Frutices sempervirentes aromatici ; foliis iyitegerrimis^ glabris, ad ramo- 

 rum apices confertis ; floribus axillaribus, solitariis vel ternis,j!avidis vel 

 piirpurascentibi'j& 



Two species of this genus are natives of the warmer parts of the eastern United 

 States, one inhabits Japan, and one Southern China. The Indian species will pro- 

 bably also be found to extend into the interior of Southern China. The fruit of the 



