8 POPULAR SKETCH OF 



Rhododendrons, with scaly conical huds; 2. Monotropese, including the true Mono- 

 tropas, or Fir-rapes; and Pyroleae, or the Wintergreen tribe. There are 52 genera, 

 and nearly 880 species. The order contains many beautiful plants, which abound at 

 the Cape of Good Hope, and are also found in other parts of the world. The fruits of 

 some of these plants are eatable, as Gaultheria procumbeus, and Shallon, American 

 shrubs; others have poisonous narcotic properties, as many species of Rhododendron, 

 Azalea, &c. /See Fig. 55.) 



114. VacciniaceSB, CRANBERRIES. Shrubby plants, closely allied to Ericaceae. They 

 are natives of temperate regions, and same of them are marsh plants. Some are 

 astringent, others yield sub-acid edible fruits. There are 15 genera, and 200 species. 



115. Epacridaceae, EPACRIDS. Shrubs or small trees, allied to Ericaceae, and occu- 

 pying the place of heaths in Australia. Their flowers are beautiful, and some yield 

 edible fruits. 30 known genera, 320 species. 



116. Columelliacese, COLUMELLIADS. Evergreen shrubs or trees, natives of Mexico 

 and Peru. Properties unknown. 1 genus, 3 species. 



117. Styracaceae, STORAX- WORTS. Trees or shrubs, natives chiefly of warm climates. 

 Lindley mentions 6 genera, and 115 species. These plants are in general stimulant, 

 aromatic, and fragrant. Some of them yield balsamic resinous substances, as storax, 

 benzoin, Sec., and others dyeing material. 



118. Ebenacese, EBENADS. Trees or shrubs, found chiefly in the tropical regions 

 and India. These plants are remarkable for the hardness and durability of their wood. 

 Some yield edible fruit. Lindley notices 9 genera, and 160 species. 



119. Aquifoliaceae, HOLLTS. Evergreen trees, or shrubs, found in various parts of 

 the world. Their properties generally are astringent and tonic. The leaves and bark 

 of the holly are tonic and febrifuge, while its berries are emetic and purgative. Its 

 wood is white and hard, and is esteemed in turnery and cabinet work. Lindley 

 enumerates 11 genera, including 110 species. 



120. Sapotaceae, SAPOTADS. Lactescent trees or shrubs, natives of the tropical 

 parts of India, Africa, and America. Many of the plants yield edible fruits, while 

 others supply oily matter. The milky juice of some of the plants contains elastic 

 matter, as Gutta Percha, which is obtained from Isonandra Gutta (Fig. 56). There 

 are 21 known genera, and 212 species. 



121. MyrsinaceSB, ARDISIADS. Trees, shrubs, or undershrubs, found chiefly in the 

 isFands of Africa, Asia, and America. Little is known of their properties. 31 known 

 genera, and 325 species. 



122. Jasminacese, JASMINES. Shrubs, often with twining stems, abounding chiefly 

 in the tropical parts of India. Their flowers yield fragrant oil, and their leaves and 

 roots are sometimes bitter. 5 genera, 100 species. 



123. Oleacese, OLIVES. Trees or shrubs, found chiefly in temperate regions. There 

 are two sections of this order: 1, Olese, with a drupaceous, or berried fruit ; 2, Fraxineae, 

 with a samaroid, or winged fruit. Lindley notices 24 genera, including 130 species. 

 These plants are bitter, tonic, and astringent, and some yield oil. Olea Europcea is 

 the Olive-tree of the coast of the Mediterranean and south of Europe. The oil of com- 

 merce is obtained by expression from the fleshy pericarp of the fruit .(Fig. 57). Several 

 species yield a sweet exudation, called Manna, The flowering Ash is a native of the - 

 south of Europe, where it attains a height of twenty or thirty feet. The common Ash 

 (Fig. 58), attains a much greater height; its wood is tough and elastic, and is used 

 for oars, &c. To this order also belongs Syringa vulgaris, the common Lilac, and 

 Ligustrum vulgare, common Privet. 



124. Asclepiadacese, ASCLEPIADS. Shrubs or herbs, with a milky juice, often 

 twining. Inhabitants chiefly of tropical regions, but many species extend to northern 

 climates. There are 141 genera, and 910 species. These plants have acrid, purgative, 

 emetic, and diaphoretic properties. The milky juice is generally bitter and acrid, 

 but sometimes it is bland, and is used as milk. The milky juice of many of the plants 

 contains Caoutchouc. 



125. Apocynacese, DOGBANES. Trees or shrubs, usually lactescent, found chiefly 

 in tropical regions. Lindley enumerates 100 genera, including 566 species. Many of 

 the .plants are poisonous; some are used medicinally as cathartics; and a few yield 

 edible fruits. The juice of l^aberncemontana utilis, the Cow-tree of Demerara, is used 

 as milk. Many of the plants supply Caoutchouc; and some species yield a dye like Indigo^ 



126. Loganiacese, LOGANIADS. Shrubs, herbs, or trees of tropical and warm 

 climates chiefly. The order is divided into three sub-orders:!, Loganitaa; 2, Strych- 

 nese; 3, Spigeliese. There are about 24 known genera, and nearly 170 species. The 

 plants of this order are highly poisonous, and possess also narcotic properties. It 

 includes Strychnos Nux- Vomica, the Poison-nut, from which Strychnia is obtained. 



127. Gentianacese, GENTIAN-WORTS. Herbs, and occasionally shrubs, distributed 



