414 EXOGENOUS OR DICOTYLEDONOUS PLANTS. 



furnishes the most important fruits. It is destitute of unwholesome 

 qualities, with one or two exceptions ; namely, 1st. The bark, 

 leaves, and kernel of Amygdalese contain prussic acid, as is indicat- 

 ed by their peculiar odor, a trace of which is perceived in some 

 species of Spirsea, and in the Mountain Ash, &c., among Pomese ; 

 and 2d. The root of Gillenia (Bowman's Root, Indian Physic) is 

 emetic in large doses, but in small doses it acts as a tonic. The 

 bark and root in all are astringent. The bark of Amygdalese also 

 exudes gum. That of the Wild Black Cherry is febrifugal ; and the 

 timber is useful in cabinet-work. The leaves of Cerasus Carolini- 

 ana contain so much prussic acid as to destroy cattle that feed upon 

 them. It takes the place in this country of the Cerasus Lauro-ce- 

 rasus (Cherry-Laurel) of the Old World, from which the poisonous 

 Laurel-water and the virulent Oil of Laurel are obtained. Sweet 

 and bitter almonds are the seeds of varieties of Amygdalas com- 

 munis (indigenous to the East), differing in the quantity of the 

 prussic acid they contain : the oil of the former resembles olive-oil ; 

 that of the latter is a deadly poison. Of the Peach, Apricot, Nec- 

 tarine, Plum, and Cherry, it is unnecessary to speak. The kernels, 

 as well as the flowers, of the former, especially, abound in prussic 

 acid. The strawberry, raspberry, and blackberry are the princi- 

 pal fruits of the proper Rosacese. The leaves of Rosa centifolia 

 are more commonly "distilled for Rose-water: and Attar of Roses 

 is obtained from R. Damascena, &c. Pomaceous fruits, such as 

 the apple, pear, quince, services, medlar, &c., yield to none in im- 

 portance : their acid is usually the malic. 



779. Ord, CalycantliaceSB, Shrubs, with quadrangular stems 

 (which when old exhibit four axes of growth exterior to the old 

 wood), opposite entire leaves without stipules, and solitary, axillary 

 and terminal, lurid flowers. Calyx of numerous somewhat thick- 

 ened colored sepals, in several rows, confounded with the petals, 

 all united below into a fleshy tube or cup, bearing numerous sta- 

 mens upon hs rim. Outer stamens with adnate extrorse anthers : 

 the inner sterile. Ovaries indefinite, two-ovuled, becoming hard 

 achenia in fruit, inserted on the whole inner surface of the disk 

 which lines the calyx-tube, in which they are inclosed, as in the 

 Rose. Albumen none. Cotyledons convolute. Consists of two 

 genera ; namely, Calycanthus (Carolina Allspice, Sweet-scent- 

 ed Shrub, &c.), and Chimonanthus, of Japan. They are cul- 

 tivated for their fragrant, flowers. The bark and foliage of Caly- 



