12 POPULAR SKETCH OF 



edible fruits, others supply caoutchouc, and some form important forest trees. 

 Cannubis sativa furnishes the valuable fibre, Hemp. Humulus Lupulus supplies the 

 Hop. Several species of Elm are cultivated for timber. The common Fig is the fruit 

 of Ficus Carica; and many other species of Ficus yield edible fruits. The plants of 

 the Fig tribe are remarkable for the adventitious roots which they send out from the 

 stems. Ficus indica, the Banyan tree, is celebrated in this respect. Ficus elastica is 

 an,. Indian tree which yields a large quantity of caoutchouc, as do also some other 

 species of Ficus. Morus alba is the White Mulberry, the leaves of which are the 

 favourite fruit of silk-worms. Broussonetia papyrifera is the Paper Mulbeny, 

 which is used in China and Japan for making a kind of paper. The dye-wood called 

 Fustic is produced by Madura (Broussonetia) tinctoria. Artocarpus incisa, the Bread- 

 fruit tree, supplies an amylaceous fruit which affords an abundant supply of food in 

 tropical countries. This important order comprises between 60 and 70 known genera, 

 and about 600 species. (Fies. 73 to 80.) 



167. Ceratophyllaceae, HORN WORTS. Aquatic herbs, found in ditches. 1 genus, 

 and 6 species. Properties unimportant. 



168. Podostemaceae, PODOSTEMADS. Herbaceous floating plants, of South America 

 and some African islands. Little is known of their properties. Lindley gives 9 genera, 

 and 25 species. 



169. Stilaginacese, ANTIDESMADS. Trees or shrubs, of the East Indies. Some 

 furnish edible fruits. There are 3 genera, and 20 species. 



170. MonimiaceSB, MONIMIADS. Trees or shrubs, of South America and Australia. 

 They are fragrant and aromatic, and some yield edible fruit. 8 genera, and 40 species. 



171. Atherospermaceae, PLUME NUTMEGS. Trees, of Australia and parts of 

 South America. Mostly fragrant. There are 3 genera, and 4 species. 



172. LacistemaC633, LACISTEMADS. Shrubs or small trees, found in the warm 

 parts of America. Properties unknown. There are 2 genera, and 6 species. 



173. ChloranthaceSB, CHLORANTHS. Herbs or undershrubs, of the warm parts of 

 India and America. Some are fragrant and aromatic. 3 genera, and 15 species. 



174. Sauniiaceae, SAURURADS. Marsh herbs, of North America, India, and China. 

 They have acrid properties. There are 4 genera, and 7 species. 



175. Piperacese, PEPPER-WORTS. Shrubs or herbs, natives of the hottest regions 

 of the globe. These plants are pungent, acrid, and aromatic; some are narcotic. 

 Most of them contain an acrid resin and a crystalline matter, called Piperin. The 

 Black- pepper plant (Fig 81) is a climbing species common in the East Indies. There 

 are 21 known genera, and upwards of 600 species. 



176. Amentaceae, CATKIN-BEARING TRIBE. Trees or shrubs, chiefly natives of 

 temperate regions. The order has been divided into seven sub-orders, as follows: 

 1. Salicinese, the Willow Tribe, found in temperate and cold regions; 2. Myricege, the 

 Gule Tribe, found in North and South America, India, and at the Cape of Good Hope. 

 3. Casuarinese, the Beef-wood Tribe, Australian trees and shrubs ; 4. Betulineae, the 

 Birch tribe, natives of temperate and cold regions; 5. Balsamaceae, the Liquidambar 

 tribe, balsamic trees of warm regions; -6. Platanese, the Plane tribe, trees of temperate 

 climates; 7. Cupiliferse, the Nut tribe, natives of temperate regions chiefly. This 

 extensive Amental alliance embraces 18 genera, and 600 species. Some of its plants 

 yield resinous and balsamic fluids, and the seeds of others are used for food. Among 

 the timber trees of this order may be mentioned the Birch, Alder, Plane, Hazel, Oak, 

 Beech, Spanish Chesnut, Poplar, and the Willow. The specie sof Myrica are aromatic, 

 and yield resinous and oily matter. Myricia cerifera, or Wax Myrtle, yields a greenish 

 wax, used for candles. A resinous matter, known as Liquid Storax, is obtained from 

 various species of Liquidumbar ; and from the bark of the common Birch is obtained 

 an oil which gives the peculiar odour to Russian leather. (Figs. 82 to 90 ) 



177. Juglandaceae, WALNUTS. Trees, natives chiefly of North America. There 

 are 4 genera, and 27 species. These plants yield oily nuts, and the seeds of the 

 common Walnut supply a bland oil. The trees furnish a valuable timber, which is 

 hard, and susceptible of a high polish. (Fig. 91.) 



178. Garryacese, GARRYADS. Shrubs of North America, remarkable for their 

 peculiar silky catkins. 2 genera, and 6 species. 



179. Coniferse, CONE BEARING TRIBE. Trees or shrubs, of both hot and cold 

 regions. Some of the genera are peculiar to the Southern hemisphere. This extensive 

 order has been divided into four sub-orders, as follow:!. Abietinese, the Fir and 

 Spruce tribe; 2. Cupressinese, the Cypress tribe; 3. Taxineae, the Yew tribe; 4. 

 Gnetacese, the Joint-Fir tribe. The order comprises 31 genera, and about 165 species. 

 These plants furnish valuable timber, and yield various important products, as tur- 

 pentine, pitch, and resin. The various kinds of Pine, Fir, Spruce, and Cedar, belong 

 to this family. Turpentine is obtained from the Scotch Fir, and different species of 

 Pine. Pitch is yielded by the Norway Spruce Fir. Balsam is procured from different 



