THE VEGETABLE KINGDOM. 11 



displaying the beautiful scarlet arillus, which constitutes mace. Within this is a 

 dark-brown shell, covering the kernel, which is the nutmeg of commerce. (Fig. 69.) 



152. ProteaceaB, PROTEADS. Shrubs or small trees, natives chiefly of Australia 

 and the Cape of Good Hope. Lindley mentions 44 genera, and 650 species. The 

 order has been divided into two sub-orders: 1. Nucumentaceae; 2. Follicalares. These 

 plants have no medicinal qualities of importance. They present great diversity of 

 appearance, and are cultivated for their beauty and the peculiarity of their flowers. 



153. ElseagnaceaB, OLEASTERS. Trees or shrubs, found in all parts of the northern 

 hemisphere. Properties unimportant. The fruit of some is eaten, and Hippophaee 

 rhamnoides also yields a yellow dye. There ara 4 known genera, and 30 species. 



154. PenseaceJfi, SARCOCOLLADS. Shrubs, found at the Cape of Good Hope, with 

 no properties of importance. The gum-resin, Sarcocal, is furnished by some species. 



3 known genera, 21 species. 



155. Thymelseaceae, DAPHNADS. Shrubby, rarely herbaceous plants. Natives of 

 various parts of the world, both in warm and temperate regions. There are two 

 sections of the order: 1. Daphneae; 2. Hemandieae. Lindley mentions 38 genera, and 

 SOO species. The bark of many species is acrid and irritant, the fruit narcotic. The 

 bark of many of the plants is made into ropes and paper. 



156. AquilariaceSB, AQUILARIADS. Trees, of the tropical regions of Asia. Some 

 species furnish a fragrant wood called Eagle, or Aloes- wood. There are 6 genera, and 

 10 species. 



157. Chailletiaceae, CHAILLETIADS. Trees or shrubs, of the warm parts of Africa 

 and South America. The fruit of some species is said to be poisonous. There are 



4 known genera, and 10 species. 



158. SamydaceJB, SAMYDS. Trees, natives chiefly of tropical America. Some spe- 

 cies of Casearia are bitter and astringent. There are 5 known genera, and 80 species. 



159. Homaliacese, HOMALIADS. Trees. or shrubs of the tropics. They do not pos- 

 sess any important properties. Lindley mentions 8 genera, including 30 species. 



160. Santalacese, SANDALWOODS. Trees, shrubs, or herbs found in Europe, Asia, 

 America, and Australia. There are 18 genera and 110 species. Some are astringent, 

 others yield fragrant wood. The seeds of some species are eaten, and the large seeds 

 of Pyrularia oleifera, Buffalo-tree, or Oil-nut, yield oil. 



161. Aristolbclliacese, BIRTHWORTS. Herbs or shrubs, often climbing, found in 

 abundance in the warm regions of South America, and found also in temperate ami 

 cold regions of other parts of the world. These plants are generally bitter, tonic, and 

 stimulant, while some are acrid. The snake-roots of Canada and Virginia belong to 

 plants of this order. There are 8 known genera and 130 species. 



162. Nepenthacese, PITCHER- PLANTS. Herbs or half-shrubby plants, natives of 

 swampy parts in the East Indies and China. They have no known properties. 

 Lindley mentions 1 genus and 6 species. 



163. Datiscacese, DATISCADS. Herbaceous branched plants or trees, scattered over 

 North America, parts of Asia, and the south-east of Europe. Some of the plants are 

 bitter, and others purgative. Lindley mentions 3 genera, and 4 species. 



164. Empetracese, CROWBERRIES. Heath-like shrubs of Europe and North Ame- 

 rica, chiefly. They have slightly acid properties. 4 genera, and 4 species. 



165. EuphOfbiaceae, SPURGE- WORTS. Trees, shrubs, or herbs, often having acrid 

 milk. These plants abound in warm regions, especially in tropical America, where 

 they are found as trees or bushes, or lactescent herbs, often presepting the appearance 

 of Cactuses. They are also found in. North America and Europe. In Britain there 

 are 18 species. There are in all 192 known genera, and upwards of 2.500 species. 

 These plants are acrid and poisonous. In many cases, the elaborated sap contains 

 caoutchouc and resin. The seeds of many species yield oils, some of a bland, and 

 others of an irritating, nature. Castor-oil is expressed from the seeds of Recinus corn- 

 munis. Croton-oil is obtained from the seeds of Croton Tiglium, an Indian shrub. 

 Cascarilla is the bark of Croton Eleuteria, and other species. The Box-tree, Buxus 

 sempervirens, whose wood is used for wood- engraving, belongs to this family as does 

 the Cassava, or Manioc plant, the starch of which is used in the form of bread. 

 From the starch of the Bitter Cassava, Tapioca is prepared. The milky sap of 

 Siphonia elastica furnishes the bottle India-rubber. Aleurites laccifera supplies gum- 

 lac; and Crozophora tinctoria, a purple dye called Turnsole. (Figs. 70, 71, 72.) 



166. UrticaceSB, NETTLE WORTS. Herbs, shrubs, or trees. The order has been di- 

 vided into five sub-orders:!. Urticeae, True Nettles; 2. Cannabinae, Hemp tribe; 

 3. Ulmaceae, Elm tribe; 4. Moreae, Mulberry tribe; 5. Artocarpeae, Bread-fruit tribe. 

 These plants are widely scattered, most of them are found in temperate climates; the 

 Mulberry tribe in temperate and warm regions, and the Bread-fruit tribe within the 

 tropics. Tiie properties of the order are various. Many yield valuable fibres, others 



