54 



A SYNOPSIS OF THE PLANT KINGDOM 



fruit coriaceous and indehiscent, or fleshy, or a capsule, 

 or composed of the 1 -seeded drupe-like lobes of the 

 ovary which are whorled on the enlarged fleshy recep- 

 tacle (Ochna). 



The family has 17 genera and 100 or more species, dis- 

 tributed in the tropical regions of both hemispheres, 

 most abundant perhaps in Brazil, but also abundant in 

 Africa. The family is not closely related to any other but 

 seems to stand between the Ranunculus group and the 

 Hypericum group of families. The many sepals, petals 

 and stamens, the gynophore, and usually the lobed 

 ovary, are distinctive. 



The wood of some species of Ochnacese has been 

 used locally for timber, and, because of the pronounced 

 astringent properties of some species, they have been 

 used locally for fly-bites, ulcers, and so on. 



Ochna multiflora, of Upper Guiana, is cultivated in 

 America. This is grown occasionally in greenhouses 

 because of the peculiar fruit, for an account of which see 

 the article on Ochna. 



142. Ternstrcemiaceae (or Theaceae) (from the genus 

 Ternslrosmia, in honor of Ternstroem, a Swedish natural- 

 ist and traveler who died in 1745). TEA FAMILY. Fig. 38. 

 Large or small trees, with alternate, entire, leathery 

 leaves : flowers solitary or scattered, usually bisexual, reg- 

 ular; sepals 5-7, imbricated, persistent; petals 5, rarely 4 

 or more, nearly or quite separate; stamens very many, 

 rarely 15 or fewer, usually hypogynous, separate or 

 united at the base, or in 5 fascicles, usually adnate to 

 the corolla below; ovary superior, 2-10-celled; ovules 1 

 to many in each cavity; styles as many as the cells of 



3d 



39. HYPEBICACT/E: 1. Hypericum, species, o, flower; 6, flower, 

 petals removed; c, fruit. 2. Yismia, floral diagram. GUTTIFER.E: 



3. Garcinia, a, flower; b, flower, perianth removed. TAMABICACE/E: 



4. Tamarix, a, flower; b, flower, perianth removed; c, floral diagram. 



the ovary, or united into one: fruit a capsule or inde- 

 hiscent, dry or drupaceous; embryo more or less curved. 

 In this family are 16 genera and 174 species of tropical 

 and subtropical distribution. Stuartia reaches Vir- 

 ginia and Kentucky, and Gordonia reaches Virginia. 

 This family is related to the Hypericaceae and Gut- 

 tiferae. also to the Dilleniaceae. From it are now usually 

 excluded several genera which were formerly included. 

 Of importance to us in this connection are Actinidia 

 (transferred to the Dilleniacea:), and Stachyurus 



(transferred to the Stachyuraceas). The very numerous 

 stamens, the type of ovary and the curved embryo are 

 distinctive. The numerous stamens have probably been 

 produced by the splitting up of one set of 5, as in the 

 Hypericaceae. 



Various glucosides and alkaloids are found in the 

 foliage, on account of which Gordonia has been used 

 for tanning leather, and other species have been used 

 in medicine. The most important species is Thea 

 chinensis (tea). The bitter taste of tea is largely due 

 to a glucoside, and the stimulating properties to an 

 alkaloid, theine. 



Exclusiye of Actinidia and Stachyurus, 8 or 10 genera 

 are in cultivation in N. America. Stuartia and Gordonia 

 (Loblolly Bay) are hardy. Visnea, Ternstrcomia and 

 Cleyera are grown in Florida. Eurya and Schima are 

 Camellia-like warmhousc shrubs. Camellia (Thea) is 

 a famous genus of old-fashioned greenhouse shrubs. 



143. Guttiferae (from the Latin signifying drop- 

 bearing, in allusion to the resinous exudation). GAR- 

 CINIA FAMILY. Fig. 39. Trees or shrubs, with opposite 

 or whorled, rarely alternate leaves: flowers regular, 

 usually some bisexual and others unisexual on the 

 same plant, rarely all bisexual; styles usually united 

 and stigmas sometimes shield-shaped, otherwise as in 

 the Hypericaceas, to which family it is closely related, 

 and with which the Guttiferao is united by many authors. 



Thirty-five genera and about 370 species inhabit 

 the tropical regions of both hemispheres. Clusia 

 (America), with 80 species, and Garcinia (Old World), 

 with 150 species, are the largest genera. Many species 

 are tropical trees of majestic size and handsome form, 

 useful for timber. The Clusias are mostly epiphytic 

 shrubs with aerial roots and evergreen leaves. 



The Guttiferae yield a yellow or greenish resinous 

 juice when incisions are made. Gamboge is an intensely 

 yellow resinous pigment extracted from Garcinia 

 Morclla (Ceylon). It is also a powerful purgative. 

 The blackish bitter juice of Clusia rosea (West Indies) 

 is also a purgative. The juice of species of Clusia (West 

 Indies) may be used as a varnish. The resin of C. flava 

 (hog-gum) is a wound remedy. Wounded swine smear 

 themselves with the gum by rubbing against the plant, 

 hence the name. The pulpy fruit of Garcinia Mangos- 

 tana ("mangosteen" of the Moluccas), and Mammea 

 americana (West Indies) are delicious to many people. 



There are 3 or 4 genera in cultivation in warm Amer- 

 ica: Garcinia including the Mangosteen, cultivated in the 

 West Indies, and the Gamboge Tree cultivated in the 

 West Indies and Florida; Calophyllum, cultivated in 

 southern Florida and southern California; Mammea 

 americana (Mammee Apple or St. Domingo Apricot), 

 cultivated in southern Florida and southern California. 



144. Hypericaceae (from the genus Hypericum, an 

 ancient Greek name of unknown origin). ST. JOHN'S- 

 WOBT FAMILY. Fig. 39. Herbaceous or woody plants: 

 leaves opposite or whorled, often pellucid punctate or 

 black-punctate : flowers bisexual, regular, cymose ; sepals 

 4-^5, more or less connate, the outer smaller, rarely 4, 

 with the 2 outer much larger; petals as many as the 

 sepals, sessile or clawed; claw naked or with a honey- 

 furrow or -pit; stamens many, hypogynous, usually in 

 3-5 bundles the members of which are often more or 

 less united, rarely monadelphous; ovary superior 3-5-, 

 rarely 1-, celled; placenta; usually parietal; ovules 

 numerous; styles 1-5, usually 3-5: fruit a capsule, 

 rarely fleshy. 



About 8 genera and 260 species are known, of which 

 200 are in the genus Hypericum, of the tropical and 

 temperate regions throughout the world, but especially 

 abundant in the north temperate zone. The family is 

 very closely related to the Guttiferae, with which it is 

 united by Engler and Prantl under the latter name; 

 also related to the Ternstrcemiacece (Theaceae). The 

 fascicles of stamens probably represent individual 

 stamens, each of which has become divided into many. 



