464 



EXOGENOUS OR DICOTYLEDONOUS PLANTS. 



stimulant volatile oil, to which their qualities are due. Camphor 

 is obtained from Camphora officinarum of Japan, China, &c. 

 Cinnamon is the bark of Cinnamomum Zeylanicum ; Cassia Bark, 

 of Cinnamomum aromaticum of China. The aromatic bark and 

 wood and the very mucilaginous leaves of our own Sassafras are 

 well known. Our Benzoin odoriferum is the Spice- wood, or Fever- 

 bush. Laurus nobilis is the true Laurel, or Sweet Bay. Persea 

 gratissima, of the West Indies, bears the edible Avocado pear. 



865. Ord, Thymelaceae (the Mezereum Family). Shrubby plants, 

 with perfect flowers, and a very tough bark ; the tube of the peta- 

 loid calyx being free from the (one-ovuled) ovary ; its lobes im- 

 bricated in aestivation ; the pendulous seed destitute of albumen. 

 Stamens often twice as many as the lobes of the calyx, inserted 

 upon its tube or throat. Ex. Daphne, &c., of Europe and Mid- 

 dle Asia ; and Dirca (Leather-wood, Moose-wood, Wickopy), 

 which is the only North American genus. The tough bark is 

 acrid, or even blistering, and is also useful for cordage. The 

 reticulated fibres may be separated into a kind of lace in the La- 

 getta or Lace-bark of Jamaica. The fruit of all the species is 

 deleterious. 



1009 1010 



866. Ord, Eleagnaceae (the Oleaster Family). Shrubs or small 

 trees, with the flowers more commonly dicecious, the leaves either 

 opposite or alternate ; readily distinguished from the preceding by 



FIG. 1008. Flowering branch of Dirca palustris. 1009. A flower. 1010. The same, laid 

 open and enlarged. 1011. Branch in fruit. 



