CYC ADAGES. 511 



Frankincense, and Burgundy-pitch, are yielded by Abies excelsa, Norway 

 Spruce Fir. Pinus Pumilio gives Hungarian balsam, Pinus pinea, the 

 Stone Pine, is the source of Carpathian balsam. Essence of Spruce, used 

 in making Spruce-beer, is got by boiling in water the leaves of the Scotch 

 Fir (Pinus sylvestris), the Black Spruce (Abies nigra), and other 

 species. A kind of Manna is procured from the Larch and from the 

 Cedar of Lebanon. The Bark-bread of the Norwegians is prepared 

 from the inner bark of Pinus sylvestris. These various kinds of resin 

 and pitch are used for stimulating and healing plasters, while the oil 

 of turpentine (oleum terebinthince) is employed medicinally as a stimu- 

 lant, diuretic, cathartic, and anthelmintic. The vapour of tar has been 

 recommended in affections of the chest. The succulent cones (fig. 

 478) (commonly called berries) of Juniperus communis. Common 

 Juniper, and the oil procured from them, are used medicinally as 

 diuretics. The oil enters into the composition of the spirituous liquor 

 called Hollands. The young branches and leaves of Juniperus Sabina, 

 Savin, contain an active volatile oil, which is used as an anthelmintic 

 and emmenagogue. In large doses it acts as a violent irritant poison. 

 The wood of Juniperus Bermudiana furnishes Pencil Cedar. J. 

 Virginiana, the Bed Cedar, yields a rubefacient oil. Thuya occi- 

 dental^ is the common Arbor-vita? of gardens. Thuya orientalis is 

 also in cultivation. Cupressus sempervirens, common Cypress, yields a 

 durable wood, which is supposed to be the Gopher-wood, -yp of the 

 Bible. Podocarpus Totarra and Dacrydium taxifolium, both supply 

 good timber in New Zealand. Taxus baccata, the Yew, is a valuable 

 timber tree. It yields resin, and its leaves and seeds are said to be 

 narcotico-acrid. Salisburia has remarkable cuneate leaves, and the fruit 

 of S. adiantifolicij the Ginko, is said to be eatable. Gnetum urens has 

 singular stinging hairs within the episperm or outer integument of 

 the seed. 



1045. Crder 180. ycadace*, the Cycas Family. (Achlamyd. 

 Diclin.) Flowers unisexual. Males coUected into cones, the scales 

 bearing on their lower surface 1 -celled anthers, which are united 

 often in sets of two, three, or four. Females consisting of naked 

 ovules, placed at the base of flat scales, or beneath peltate ones, or 

 seated on the margins of altered leaves. Seeds hard and nut-like, 

 sometimes with an external spongy coat ; embryos 1 or 2, suspended 

 in a central cavity ; albumen fleshy or mealy ; cotyledons unequal ; 

 radicle superior, having a long cord-like prolongation by which the 

 embryo is suspended. Trees or shrubs, with cylindrical trunks, 

 usually simple, sometimes dichotomous, marked with the scars of the 

 leaves, and in many respects having the aspect of Palms (fig. 817). The 

 internal structure is more or less distinctly that of dicotyledons. Pitted 

 tissue and spiral vessels occur. The leaves are pinnate, and their ver- 

 nation is circinate, thus resembling ferns. The plants of this order are 



