A SYNOPSIS OF THE PLANT KINGDOM 



35 



for the fruit; Asimina, ornamental, in the North; Arta- 

 botrys, climbing, ornamental, sweet-scented, used for 

 perfume; Duguetia, cultivated for the fruit in Florida. 



82. Myristicaceae (from the genus Myristica, mean- 

 ing an anointing medium, in reference to the fragrant 

 fruit). NUTMEG FAMILY. Fig. 23. Trees or shrubs: 

 leaves alternate, coriaceous, entire: flowers dioecious, 

 regular, small; perianth of one series, the 3 parts con- 

 nate, 3-lobed; stamens 3-18, monadelphous; carpel 1, 

 superior; ovary 1-celled; ovule 1; stigma sessile, entire 

 or lobed: fruit a fleshy capsule; seed with a fleshy, 

 laciniate aril. 



The family contains 1 genus and about 80 species, 

 of tropical distribution, principally in tropical Asia. 

 The family is most closely related to the Annonaceae. 

 The dioecious flowers with only one set of floral envel- 

 opes, and that consisting of 3 parts, the monadelphous 

 stamens, the 1-celled, 1-ovuled ovary and the aril are 

 distinctive. 



All parts of Myristicaceae contain a fragrant oil, 

 which, however, is most abundant in the fruit. The 

 seeds of Myristica fragrans, of the Moluccas, furnish 

 the well-known nutmeg, used as a condiment. The 

 aril of the same fruit is rnace. The fruits of other 

 species are also sparingly used as condiments. 



Myristica fragrans is cultivated and naturalized in 

 the West Indies. 



83. Monimiaceae (from the genus Monimia, named 

 forthe wifeof Mythridates). MONIMIA FAMILY. Fig.23. 

 Trees or shrubs with aromatic glands: leaves opposite 

 or whorled, rarely alternate: flowers usually bisexual, 

 regular, perigynous, the more or less cup-shaped 

 receptacle conspicuous, variously formed; perianth 

 of 1 or 2 whorls, inconspicuous; stamens numerous, 

 rarely few, scattered over the inner face of the recep- 

 tacle ; anthers often opening by uplifting valves ; carpels 

 numerous, all separate, also scattered over the recep- 

 tacular cup; ovaries 1-ovuled; style and stigma 1 for 

 each carpel: fruit an achene or drupe, borne on the 

 receptacle and sessile or pedicelled, or immersed in the 

 fleshy often urn-shaped receptacle which becomes part 

 of an aggregate accessory fruit and frequently com- 

 pletely incloses the achenes. 



Contained in this family are 31 genera and about 

 150 species, of tropical and subtropical distribution, 

 principally of the South Sea Islands and Australia; 

 some, howeyer, reach South America, Africa, and 

 other countries. The largest genus is Siparuna, con- 

 taining 60 species. The family is related to the Caly- 

 canthacea:, as is plainly evident in the fruit. The usu- 

 ally enlarged receptacle, the peculiar fruit, and the 

 1-seeded carpels are distinctive. 



The Monimiacese have stimulating properties. Peu- 

 mus leaves are used to promote digestion, like tea 

 and coffee. The fruits of this plant are edible, as are 

 also those of Laurelia sempervirens. The wood of 

 Atherpsperma moschatum is much sought for ship- 

 building; the bark is a substitute for tea. 



Peumus (Chilean Boldo) is advertised in California; 

 valuable for its timber, edible fruits, and ornamental 

 qualities. 



84. Lauraceae (from the genus Laurus, the old Latin 

 name). LAUREL FAMILY. Fig. 23. Trees or shrubs 

 with fetid or aromatic bark: leaves alternate, rarely 

 otherwise, simple, punctate: flowers bisexual or unisex- 

 ual, regular; parts of the perianth similar, usually 6, in 

 2 whorls; stamens in 34 whorls of 3 each, perigynous 

 or epigynous, some often staminodial and glandular; 

 anthers opening by uplifting valves; ovary superior or 

 very rarely inferior, 1-celled, 1-ovuled; style 1; stigma 

 2-3-lobed: fruit a berry, drupe, or dry, often seated on 

 a thickened pedicel or inclosed in a hollow receptacle. 



The 39 genera and about 900 species inhabit mostly 

 tropical regions, but extend into the temperate re- 

 gions. Six species are found in the northeastern United 

 Suites. The largest genera are Ocotea with 200 species, 



and Litsea with 100 species. The family is related to 

 the Monimiaceae, and stands between that family and 

 the Thymeteaceae. The undifferentiated perianth, nu- 

 merous stamens with uplifting valves, and 1-celled, 

 1-seeded ovary are distinctive. 



The Lauraceae are useful on account of the aromatic 

 oil. The leaves of laurel (Laurus nobilis) are. used for 

 flavoring and for packing figs. Cinnamon is from 

 the bark of Cinnamomum zeylanicum. Cinnamomum 

 Cassia yields cassia cinnamon. The bark of the root 

 of Sassafras variifolium is the sassafras of commerce. 

 Camphor is obtained by distillation from Cinnamomum 

 Camphora. The fruit of Persea gratissima is the avo- 

 cado of South America, eaten by both men and 

 animals. Many fragrant woods are obtained from 

 this family, as, for example: anise wood (Ocotea 

 cymbarum), bebeeru wood, greenheart (Nectandra 

 Rodicei), or clove -cassia pepper wood (Dicypellium 

 caryophyllatum) so named because of the pungency of 

 the dust, Madeira mahogany (Persea indica), fetid till 

 (Ocotea foetens), sweetwood (Nectandra exaltata), and 

 stinkwood (Ocotea bullata). 



Among the genera in cultivation in this country 

 are: Benzoin (Spice Bush, Benjamin Bush, Wild All- 

 spice, Fever Bush), native, ornamental; Cinnamomum 

 or Camphora (Camphor Tree), introduced in Florida 

 and California; Cinnamomum (Cinnamon, Cassia 

 Buds), cultivated under glass; Laurus (Sweet Bay), 

 ornamental, conservatory; Persea (Red Bay, Bull Bay, 

 Avocado), greenhouse and South; Sassafras, native 

 ornamental; and Umbellularia (California Laurel), 

 ornamental, in the South and California. 



Order 35. RHCEADALES 



85. Papaveraceae (from the genus Papaver, derivation 

 obscure). POPPY FAMILY. Fig. 24. Annual or perennial 

 herbs, or rarely shrubs, with yellow (Chelidonium), 

 white (Papaver), or red (Sanguinaria), or rarely watery 

 (Eschscholtzia) juice: leaves usually alternate, often 

 crenately toothed or lobed or divided: flowers bisexual, 

 regular; sepals 2, rarely 3; petals 4, rarely 6 or more, 

 rarely wanting; stamens numerous in many whorls, 

 hypogynqus; carpels 1 to many, connate into a 1-celled 

 ovary, with the parietal placentas as many as the stig- 

 mas; ovules 1 to many; styles as many as the carpels, 

 usually wanting; stigmas distinct, or in a radiate disk, 

 or lobed: fruit capsular or siliquose; seed albuminous. 



The 23 genera and about 80 species are widely dis- 

 tributed in the north temperate zone, but are especially 

 numerous in central and eastern Asia, the Mediter- 

 ranean region and western North America. One species 

 of poppy is found in the south temperate region in 

 South Africa and Australia. The family is closely 

 related to the Fumariacese (which see), with which it is 

 united by many European authors. It is also related 

 to Capparidaceae and Cruciferse. There is, on the other 

 hand, an affinity with the Berberidaceae. The milky 

 juice, numerical plan of 2 or 3 in the perianth, numerous 

 stamens, and 1-celled ovary with parietal placentae are 

 characteristic. 



In Papaver, an orbicular disk crowns the ovary on 

 the top of which radiate the numerous stigmatic fines. 

 The capsules open by means of small valves between 

 the placentae and underneath the disk. The capsule 

 of Chelidonium is like a mustard fruit (silique), in 

 being long and slender and the lateral walls springing 

 upward as valves, leaving the placentas exposed. 



Many of the Papaveraceae are cultivated as orna- 

 mental plants. Some poppies are bad weeds in cul- 

 tivated ground in Europe. Papaver somniferum, a 

 native of Asia, furnishes the opium of commerce, 

 which is obtained by incisions made in the capsules. 

 Poppy oil is derived in France from the seeds of 

 Papaver somniferum. Sanguinaria root is used in 

 medicine as a sedative. 



