I.] 



POLYGONACE.E. 



201 



dioecious flowers of Sheep-sorrel (Rumex Acetosella and 

 R. acetosd). 



Rhubarb of greengrocers is the succulent acid petiole of 

 a species of Rheum. Eastern species of the same genus 

 afford the root used in medicine as Rhubarb. 



Buckwheat (Polygonum Fagopyrum) has been long cul- 

 tivated in temperate countries for its farinaceous seeds, of 

 which a useful bread is made. It is planted in England 

 for feeding game and poultry. 



54. Natural Order Thymelaceae. The Daphne 

 Family. 



DISTRIBUTION. Chiefly confined to the Old World, 

 and most numerous in Australia and at the Cape of Good 

 Hope. One British genus, species 2. 



Shrubs. Ovary I -celled, with i pendulous ovule. 



Type Spurge Laurel (Daphne Laureold). 



An erect little-branched shrub, with shining evergreen 

 entire leaves, and clustered greenish flowers. 



OBSERVE the tenacious liber-layer of the bark, charac- 

 teristic of the Family : the highly-coloured perianth of 

 some garden and greenhouse genera. 



The berries of Mezereon (D. Mezereum} are poisonous, 

 and those of Spurge Laurel are also said to be poisonous 

 to all animals excepting birds. From the liber of D. 



