DICOTYLEDONES— MONOCHLAMYDE.E 255 



Distribution and Numbers. — Natives of the temperate parts 

 of Europe and North America, and of the tropical regions of 

 . South America, India, and the Cape of Good Hope. Illustra- 

 tive Genera : — Myrica, Linn.', Comptonia, Banks. There are 

 about 20 species. 



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

 remarkable for aromatic and astringent properties. 



Order 40. CASUARiNACEiE, the Beef- wood Order. — Charac- 

 ter. — Tre^s with pendulous, jointed, striated branches, without 

 evident leaves, but sometimes havmg short toothed sheaths, re- 

 presenting whorls of leaves, at the nodes. Floiuers in bracteate 

 spikes or heads, unisexual. Male fioivers with 2 sei^als united at 

 their points, and 2 alternating bracts ; 1 stamen, and a 2-celled 

 anther. Female fioivers in dense spikes or heads, naked, but 

 each having 2 bracts ; ovary 1-celled or rarely 2-celled, with 1 — 2 

 ascending ovules, and 2 styles. Fi'uits wmged, indehiscent, 



Fig. 1014. Fig. 1015. Fig. 1016. 



Fig. 1014. Male flower of a species of Oak {Quercu.^). Fig.\0\h. Female 



flower of tlie same. Fig. 1016. Transverse section of the female flower. 



collected together into a cone-shaped body hidden under the 

 thickened bracts. Seeds exalbuminous ; radicle superior. 



Distribution and Numbers. — These plants are principally 

 natives of Australia. They are called Beef- wood trees from the 

 coloiu' of their timber somewhat resembling that of raw beef. 

 In general appearance they much resemble the branched 

 Equisetinae. Casuarina, Linn., is the only genus ; it contains 

 about 32 species. 



Projjerties ajicl Uses.— The species of Casuarina yield very 

 hard and heavy timber, and the bark of some is said to be tonic 

 and astringent. 



Order 41. Corylace^ or Cupulifee^, the Oak Order. — 

 Character. — Trees or shrubs. Leaves alternate, usually feather- 

 veined, simple, with deciduous stipules. Fioivers monoecious. 

 Male fioivers clustered or in amenta, and with or without bracts ; 

 stamens 5 — 20, inserted into the base of a membranous cal^-x, 

 or of scales or bracts. Female fioivers solitary- or amentaceous, 



