CORNEL TRIBE. 289 



2. ADOXA (Moschatell). 



1. A. Moschatellina (Common Moschatell). The 

 only species. A small herbaceous plant 4 6 inches 

 high, growing in damp woods and hedge banks, and not 

 unfrequent at a great elevation among the mountains. 

 Each plant bears several delicate* root-leaves, and two 

 smaller leaves half-way up the stem. The flowers grow 

 in terminal heads of 5 each, the upper flower with 



4 petals and 8 stamens, the four side flowers having 



5 petals and 1 stamens each ; the latter are remarkable 

 for being inserted in pairs, and for bearing 1 -celled 

 anthers; or the filaments may be considered to be 

 forked, each fork bearing the lobe of an anther. The 

 whole plant diffuses a musk-like scent, which, however, 

 is not perceptible if the plant be bruised. El. April, 

 May. Perennial. 



ORD. XL COENACE^. THE CORNEL TRIBE. 



Sepals 4, attached to the ovary; petals 4, oblong, 

 broad at the base, inserted into the top of the calyx; 

 stamens 4, inserted with the petals ; ovary 2-celled ; 

 style thread-like ; stigma simple ; fruit a berry-like 

 drupe, with a 2-celled nut ; seeds solitary. Mostly trees 

 or shrubs, with opposite leaves, and flowers growing in 

 heads or umbels. A small order, containing few plants 

 of interest, which inhabit the temperate regions of 

 Europe, Asia, and America. In the United States 

 several species are found, the bark of which is a power- 

 ful tonic, ranking in utility next to Peruvian bark. 

 Benthamia fragifera, a handsome shrub from the moun- 

 tains of Nepal, was introduced into England in 1825. 

 In Cornwall, where it was first raised from seed, it 

 flowers and bears fruit freely, and forms a pleasing 

 addition to the shrubbery. Two species of Comus are 

 indigenous to Britain. The Cornus of the ancients was 

 the present Cornelian Cherry, Cornus mdscula, whose 

 u 



