24 



A SYNOPSIS OF THE PLANT KINGDOM 



1-celled; ovule 1, basal; stigmas 1-4, rarely more, sessile: 

 fruit a dry or fleshy berry. 



There are 9 genera and about 1,025 species, confined 

 to the tropics. The largest genera are Piper with 600 

 species and Peperomia with 400 species. The family is 

 related to the Saururaceae, with which it is often united; 

 otherwise it stands alone as a distinct type, the system- 

 atic position of which is uncertain. The spicate inflores- 

 cence, naked flowers, and 1-celled, 1-seeded ovary are 

 distinctive. 



The unripe fruit of Piper nigrum (Java, etc.) yields 

 black pepper. The ripe fruit of the same plant yields 

 white pepper. Long pepper is the whole spike of 

 P. longum of India. The drug cubebs is obtained 

 from P. Ciibeba. Betel consists of the leaves of 

 P. Belle, which in India are mixed with the areca nut 

 and masticated (p. 16). From an extraction of the roots 

 of P. methysticum (ava, or kava-kava), mixed with 

 the milk of coconuts, an intoxicating drink is made in 

 the Pacific Islands. Some species of Peperomia are 

 eaten as salads; others chewed as betel. 



Some genera are in cultivation in America as green- 

 house foliage plants: Peperomia, 10 or more species; 

 Piper (Pepper, Black Pepper, Japanese Pepper). 



50. Chloranthacese (from the genus Chlaranthus, 

 signifying green flowers). CHLORANTHUS FAMILY. Fig. 

 14. Herbs, shrubs or trees: leaves opposite: flowers 

 bisexual or unisexual, regular, very small, subtended 

 by bracts, and mostly borne in spikes; perianth 0; 

 stamens in the bisexual flowers 1-3, united with each 

 other and with the ovary; in the staminate inflorescence 

 inserted on a common axis and forming a spike; 

 carpels 1, with 1 pendent ovule; stigma sessile: fruit 

 drupaceous. 



Three genera and about 35 species occur, in tropical 

 America, East Asia, and the islands of the Pacific 

 Ocean. The family is related to the Piperacese and 

 Saururaceae. The opposite leaves, the few stamens, 

 which are often unilaterally united with the 1-celled 

 ovary, and the suspended ovule, are peculiar. 



The roots of Chlaranthits officinalis have a camphor- 

 like odor, and are used in the East as a febrifuge. 



One species of Chloranthus is grown in greenhouses 

 for foliage and berries. 



Order 24. SALICALES 



51. Salicacese (from the genus Salix, the classical 

 Latin name). WILLOW FAMILY. Fig. 15. Shrubs or 

 trees, creeping in the arctics: leaves alternate, simple: 

 flowers dioecious, both sexes in catkins, 1 flower to each 

 scale; perianth 0; disk present, cup-shaped or finger- 

 like; stamens 2-many, separate or united; ovary often 

 pedicelled, 1-celled; placentae 2, parietal; ovules numer- 

 ous; stigmas 2, often each 2-lobed: fruit a capsule; 

 seeds with a basal tuft of long hairs. 



Salicacese has 2 genera and about 180 species, of 

 which 160 belong to the genus Salix; inhabitants of 

 the north temperate and arctic zones ; a few in the 

 tropics and in South Africa. The family is not definitely 

 related to any other family, though possibly to the 

 Tamaricaceae. The flowers of both sexes in catkins, 

 the glandular disk, and the dehiscent many-seeded 

 capsule with comose seeds, are distinctive. 



The bark of many species has been used for inter- 

 mittent fevers and for tanning leather. A yellow dye 

 occurs in the bark of Populus alba and P. iremula, 

 also in Salix alba, S. daphnoides, and others. The 

 resinous buds of P. balsamifera, or tacamahac, furnish 

 American balm of Gilead. The staminate catkins of 

 S. xgyptiaca are odoriferous and are used in the East 

 in medicinal waters, as a cordial, and as a sudorific. 

 Willow and poplar wood is soft and light. The twigs 

 of several specie of Salix are universally used in 

 basket-making. 



The two genera are in cultivation in America, as 



ornamental plants and for shelter-belts and basket- 

 work and sometimes for timber: Populus (Poplar, As- 

 pen, Tacamahac, Balm of Gilead [not the original], 

 Cottonwood, Abele); and Salix (Willow, Osier). 



Order 25. MYRICALES 



52. Myricaceae (from the genus Myrica, the ancient 

 name of the Tamarisk). SWEET GALE FAMILY. Fig. 15. 

 Shrubs or trees: leaves alternate, usually simple, resin- 

 ous: flowers monoecious or dioecious, in catkins or 

 spikes, single for each bract; perianth 0; stamens 4-6, 

 or 16, in the axil of the bract (scale); ovary 1-celled, 

 1-ovuled; stigmas 2: fruit a drupe, usually slightly 

 horned by union with the bracteoles; seed solitary, 

 orthotropous, basal. 



15. SALICACE*: 1. Salix, o, male flower; 6, female flower; c. 

 cross-section ovary. 2. Populus, a, male flower; 6, dehiscing fruit, 

 MYRICACE^E: 3. Myrica, a, male flower; b, female flower. Juo- 

 LANDACE.: 4. Juglans, a, diagram male flower; fc, diagram female 

 flower; c, vertical section female flower. BETULACE^E: 5. Corylus, 

 a, diagram male flower; 6, diagram female flowers. 6. Betula, a, 

 male flowers; b, female flowers; c, diagram male flowers; d, diagram 

 female flowers. 7. Alnus, a, male flowers; b, female flowers; c, dia- 

 gram male flowers; d, diagram female flowers, (s, scale; a, 6, and c, 

 bractioles of the first, second and third orders; p t perianth; g, 

 gland. } 



One genus with about 35 species is generally dis- 

 tributed over the more temperate parts of the earth. 

 The Myricaceae are related to the other amentiferous 

 families, e.g., Juglandaccae. Fagacea; and Betulaceae. 

 The indehiscent, 1-seeded fruit, basal seeds, two 

 carpels, absence of perianth, and simple leaves are 

 characteristic of the family. 



Myrica Gale and other species are used for tanning 

 leather. M. Gale has also been used in the preparation 

 of beer. The wax from the drupelets of M. cerifera 

 and M . carolinensis is used for making candles. The 

 fruit of M. sapida and M. Nagi is edible. M. (Comp- 

 tonia) asplenifolia has been used as a tonic. A volatile 

 oil is obtained from the fruits of M. Gale. The root 

 of M. cerifera is emetic and purgative. 



M. Nn'gi is cultivated in California for the edible 

 fruit. M. asplenifolia, native in the United States, is 

 grown for ornament. Other species are sometimes 

 planted. 



