124 History of Hingham. 



poisons known, is the concrete juice of one species found in the 

 islands of the Indian Ocean. The hairs on the leaves of the 

 nettles are proverbial for their stinging qualities. Notwithstand- 

 ing the poisonous properties of the sap of some species, the cele- 

 brated Cow-tree of South America supplies a milky juice which 

 is wholesome and valuable as food or drink. This order also 

 produces the Fig, Breadfruit, Mulberry, and other fruits, besides 

 the Hop. Hemp, and Fustic, are also products of this family, 

 as is Gum-lac. The famous Banyan-tree is one of the species. 



Ulmus, L. 



Americana, L. Elm. 

 Celtis, Tourn. 



occidentalis, L. Hack-berry. 

 Urtica, Tourn. 



gracilis, Ait. Nettle. 



dioica, L. 



urens, L. 

 Pilea, Lin (11. 



pumila, Gray. Richweed. 

 Bcehmeria, Jacq. 



cylindrica, Willd. False Nettle. 



Cannabis, Tourn. 

 sativa, L. 



Parietaria, Tourn. 



Pennsylvaniea, Muhl. Pellitory. Rare. 



69. PLATANACEiE. (PLANE-TREE FAMILY.) 



An order of trees and shrubs, natives of the Levant, Barbary, 

 and North America. The trees of this family are immense ; 

 specimens of our only species having been found in the West, 

 thirteen feet in diameter. A tree of the Oriental Plane (P. ori- 

 cntalis) standing on the bank of the Bosphorus, is 141 feet in 

 circumference and believed to be 2,000 years old. The wood of 

 the trees of this order is used in the arts. 



Platanus, L. 



occidentalis, L. Bnttonwood. 



70. JUGLANDACB3!. (WALNUT FAMILY.) 



An important family, of about thirty species, principally in- 

 habiting North America. It comprises trees of large size and 

 imposing appearance, which are very useful in the arts ; fur- 

 nishing valuable timber, besides affording a dye-stuff made from 

 the husks and roots. Sugar similar to maple sugar is obtained 

 from the sap, and the leaves and bark of some species are used 

 in medicine. The fruit of many trees of this order is highly 

 esteemed. 



