ORDER XCVn. POLYGONACEvE. OKDEK CIV. SAUBURACE^E. 



123 



nypogynous, 1 20. Ovary free, 1-celled. Style 1. Stigma 1. 

 Fruit an achenium. 



A small and mostly tropical order. Several species of Mlrabilis (Four- 

 o'clock, Manet of Peru), are cultivated here, 



OKDEE XCVII. Polygonaceae. 



Herbs, or shrubs. Leaves alternate. Stipules ochreate, rarely 

 none. Flowers usually perfect Sepals 4 6, more or less united 

 at base, often petaloid. Stamens definite, inserted on the base 

 of the sepals. Ovary free, 1-celled, 1-ovuled. Styles or stigmas 

 2 or 3. Achcnium usually triangular or oblong. 



An order widely distributed through the world, and containing some Im- 

 portant plants. Buckwheat (Polygonum Fagopyrum\ belongs here. The 

 Sorrel and Garden Uhubarb (Rheum), are distinguished by the acid juices of 

 their stalks and leaves. Borne unknown Tartarian species yields the Khubarb 



FlftWL 



of the shops. The roots of the Yellow-Dock (Rumez), possess powerful anti- 

 scorbutic properties, and are a popular remedy for skin diseases. In fig. 82, 

 Polyeunum Persicaria, with Its peculiar sheathing stipules (Ochrtae), is repre- 

 NWML 



GKOUP III. 

 ORDER XCVIII. Lauracese. 



Trees, or shrubs. Leaves alternate, usually punctate with 

 pellucid dots, destitute of stipules. Flowers perfect, or dioeei- 

 ously polygamous. Sepals 46, more or less united at base, im- 

 bricated in 2 series. Stamens definite, usually more numerous 

 than the sepals, inserted on their base. Anthers 2 4-cellcd, 

 <>l" ning by recurved valves from base to apex. Ovary, style and 

 stigma single. Fruit a berry or drupe, usually with a thickened 

 pedicel. Seed large, with a conspicuous embryo. 



An order constating chiefly of tropical tree*, distinguished by their stimu- 

 lant and aromatic properties, owing to the presence of a volatile oil. Cinnamon 

 Li obtained from the Cinnamomutn Zeylanicnm and the Inferior Cassia bark, 

 which In this country and Europe Is generally sold for Cinnamon, from the C. 

 aromaticnm of China. Camphor Is obtained from the different species of Cam- 

 phora, native* of China, Japan, and the Eastern Archipelago. The order Is re- 

 presented at the North by Sassafras and Benzoin (Four-built). 



ORDER XCIX. Thymeleacese. 



Shrulw with a tough bark. Leaves alternate, or opposite, 

 Flowers perfect Calyx petaloid, tubular, free from the 



ovary ; limb usually 4-cleft, the lobes imbricated in prefloration, 

 sometimes entire. Stamens definite, usually twice as many as 

 the calyx-lobes, inserted in its throat. Ovary with 1 ovule. 

 Style 1. Stigma 1. Fruit drupaceous. 



An order distinguished as well by the acrid and even blistering properties of 

 the bark, as by its toughness. Dirca (Leatherwood), and Daphne (Matereon), 

 are examples. 



ORDER 0. Eleagnaceae. 



Trees, or shrubs, usually covered by a kind of scurf. Flowers 

 axillary, dioecious, rarely perfect. Calyx of the sterile flowers 

 4-parted. Stamens 3 8, sessile. Anthers 2-celled. Calyx of the 

 fertile flowers tubular, persistent, with an entire or 2 4-lobed 

 limb. Ovary simple, 1-celled, with a single stipitate ovule. 

 Fruit a crustaceous achcnium, free from, but inclosed in, the 

 calyx, which becomes succulent and baccate. 



A very small order possessing no remarkable qualities. The Eleagnus 

 (Oleaster), cultivated for its silvery foliage, is an example. 



ORDER CI. Santalaceae. 



Trees, shrubs, or herbs. Leaves alternate, entire. Flowers 

 email, perfect, rarely dioecious, polygamous. Calyx-tube adher- 

 ent to the ovary ; liinb 4 5-cleft Stamens as many as the lobes 

 of the calyx, and inserted opposite them. Ovary 1-celled, with 

 14 ovules. Style 1. Fruit indehisccnt, crowned with the per- 

 sistent calyx, often drupaceous. 



A small and rather unimportant order, native chiefly of the wanner por- 

 tions of the world. An Indian species of Santala yields the fragrant Sandal- 

 wood. Comandra (Toad-float), and Nyssa, the Gum-tree, are examples. 



ORDER CII. Loranthaceae. 



Shrubs, parasitic on trees. Stems dichotomousjy branching. 

 Leaves opposite, entire, coriaceous, of a dull green color. Flow- 

 ers small, often dioecious, rarely perfect and brilliant Calyx- 

 tube adherent to the ovary of the perfect flower. Limb obsolete 

 or 3 5-clcft Petals 3 8, cohering in a tube or distinct, some- 

 times none. Stamens as many as the petals, and inserted on 

 them when present, otherwise they arc inserted on the base of 

 the sepals, 1 to each. Ovary 1-celled, 1-ovuled. Fruit a globu- 

 lar l-eeded berry. 



A large parasitic order, represented In N. J. and the South by the Misseltoe 

 (Vitenm). 



ORDER GUI. Ulmaceae. 



Trees, or shrubs. Leaves alternate, simple, rough. Stipules 

 2 at the base of each leaf, deciduous. Flowers in loose axillary 

 clusters, rarely solitary, perfect or polygamous. Calyx free from 

 the ovary, campanulate, 4 5-cleft. Stamens as many as the 

 calyx-lobes, and opposite them ; or else more numerous. Ovary 

 1-celled, 1 2-ovuled. Styles or stigmas 2. Fruit 1-celled, 1- 

 seeded, either a samara or berry-like drupe. 



A small order consisting chiefly of trees, useful merely as Umber. Ulmus, 

 the Elm, one species of which, the well-known Slippery Elm, is an example. 



GEOUP IV. 

 ORDER CIV. Saururaceae. 



Herbs, with the stems jointed at the nodes. Leaves alternate, 

 entire. Flowers perfect, m spikes or racemes, entirely destitute 

 of floral envelopes. Stamens definite, persistent, usually 6 8. 

 Anthers 2-cellei Ovary consisting of 3 5 partially united car- 

 pels. Styles 3 5, distinct Capsule or berry 3 6-celled, each 

 cell usually 1-seeded. 



Unimportant marsh plants, represented here by Ssururus (Linaril's-tai.). 



