MYRISTICACEjE. 485 



toides. Nectandra Rodiczi, a large tree found in British Guiana, yields 

 a bark known as the Bebeeru-bark. The wood of the tree is im- 

 ported for ship-building, under the name of Green-heart. The bark 

 was used by Dr. Eodie, who detected the existence of an alkaloid 

 called Bebeerina. Dr. Douglas Maclagan obtained it pure, and found 

 along with it another alkaloid called Sipeerina. Sulphate of Bebeerina 

 is used as an antiperiodic. The cotyledons of the seed contain much 

 starch, and are used for food. Persea gratissima (Laurus Persea) yields 

 a pear-shaped succulent fruit called Avocado or Alligator-pear, or 

 Subaltern's-butter. It contains a fixed oil. The clove nutmegs of 

 Madagascar are produced by Agaihophyllum aromaticum, and Brazilian 

 nutmegs are the produce of Cryptocarya moschata. Benzoin odoriferum 

 is the Spice-wood or Fever-bush of North America. 



995. Order 151. uiyristicaccte, the Nutmeg Family. (Apet. Di- 

 clin.) Flowers unisexual. Perianth trifid, rarely quadrifid, in the 

 female deciduous; aestivation valvate. Stamens 3-12; filaments com- 

 bined into a cylinder; anthers united or distinct, dithecal, extrorse, 

 dehiscing longitudinally. Ovary free, composed of one or more carpels, 

 unilocular; ovule solitary, erect, anatropal; style very short; stigma 

 somewhat lobed. Fruit succulent, 1 -celled, 2-valved. Seed solitary, 

 usually covered by a laciniated arillus; embryo small, orthotropal, at 

 the base of ruminate albumen; cotyledons foliaceous; radicle inferior. 

 Trees with alternate, exstipulate, entire, not dotted leaves. Natives 

 of the tropical regions of Asia and America. There are 5 known 

 genera, and between 30 and 40 species. Example Myristica. 



996. Acridity and aromatic fragrance are the properties of the 

 order. The most important plant is Myristica officinalis (M. moschata 

 or aromatica), a tree attaining a height of thirty feet, found in the 

 Moluccas, and cultivated in many tropical countries. The fruit is 

 drupaceous, and opens by two valves when ripe, displaying the beau- 

 tiful reticulated scarlet arillus, which constitutes mace. Within this 

 is a thin, hard, dark-brown, glossy shell, covering the kernel, which is 

 the nutmeg of the shops. It is said that a single tree will yield on an 

 average about six pounds of nutmegs. By expression they are made 

 to yield a concrete oil called Adeps Myristicce, or sometimes errone- 

 ously oil of mace. A volatile oil is also procured by distillation. 

 Mace is an arillode or additional covering of the seed commencing at 

 the exostome (^[ 581). It has a fine crimson hue, and yields a fatty 

 matter and volatile oil, resembling those of the nutmeg. Nutmeg and 

 mace are used medicinally as aromatic stimulants and condiments. In 

 large doses they have a narcotic effect. The fleshy part of the fruit is 

 used as a preserve. The kernels of Myristica tomentosa are also used 

 as aromatics, under the name of wild or male nutmegs. The bark of 

 many plants of the order yields an acrid juice, which is sometimes of 

 a crimson colour. A red pigment is furnished by PyrrJiosa tingens. 



