A SYNOPSIS OF THE PLANT KINGDOM 



59 



several species, e.g., Daphne cannabina of India, Dirca 

 palustris of the United States, Gnidia of Madagascar, 

 and Lagetta of Jamaica. Cord is made from Lagelta 

 funifera and L. lintearia of South America. The wood 

 of Aquilaria Agallocha of India is aromatic, called 

 aloewood. One Pimelea yields a balsam. Lace-bark is 

 the product of Lagetta lintearia. 



Six or more genera are in cultivation in this country 

 for ornament. Among these are: .Daphne (Mezereon), 

 greenhouse and garden; Dirca (Leatherwood, Moose- 

 wood), native, hardy; and Pimelea (Rice Flower), 

 greenhouse. 



158. Elaeagnacese (from the genus Elxagnus, de- 

 rived from the Greek name of the olive combined with 

 that of the Chaste tree). OLEASTER FAMILY. Fig. 42. 

 Trees and shrubs, covered with silvery and brown, pel- 

 tate or stellate scales: leaves alternate or opposite, sim- 

 ple, entire: flowers bisexual or unisexual, regular, peri- 

 gynous; receptacle developed into a long tube beyond 

 the ovary, more or less persistent, and inclosing the 

 fruit; perianth of 1 series; parts 4, rarely 2 or 6, val- 

 vate; stamens of the same number or double the num- 

 ber, inserted in the tube; perigynous disk prominent, 

 lobed; ovary superior, 1-celled, 1-ovuled; style 1; 

 stigma 1 : real fruit dry, indehiscent, but appearing 

 drupe-like because of the fleshy investing receptacle. 



Three genera and about 30 species are found, of 

 which about 25 belong to Elseagnus; mostly steppe or 

 rock plants, chiefly of south Asia, Europe and North 

 America. The family is closely related to the Thymelfe- 

 aceae, which see for further relationship. The peculiar 

 scales, the perigynous flowers, the 1-celled, 1-seeded 

 ovary, and the fleshy but free receptacle are distinctive. 



The acid fruits of Elseagnus angustifolia of Persia are 

 eaten; also those of E. latifolia of India, and the seeds 

 of Shepherdia argentea of North America. 



There are 3 genera in cultivation in America, prin- 

 cipally as hardy ornamental plants with silvery foliage: 

 Elaeagnus (Oleaster, Goumi); Hippophae (Sea Buck- 

 thorn, Swallow Thorn); Shepherdia (Buffalo Berry). 



159. Lythraceae (from the genus Lythrum, derived 

 from the Greek meaning blood, in reference to the pur- 

 ple flowers). LOOSESTRIFE FAMILY. Fig. 42. Herbs, 

 shrubs, or trees: leaves usually opposite or whorled: 

 flowers bisexual, usually regular, perigynous; recepta- 

 cle ("calyx-tube") tubular, ribbed, free from the ovary, 

 bearing the 4 or 8 valvate sepals on its margin; petals 

 of the same number as the sepals, or 0, and inserted with 

 them, imbricated; stamens usually twice as many as 

 the petals, rarely more (up to 200), or fewer (to 1); 

 outer set alternate with the peta|s, and inserted some 

 distance below them; ovary superior, 2-6-celled, many- 

 ovuled: fruit a capsule, rarely indehiscent. 



There are 22 genera and about 450 species known; 

 generally distributed, but more abundant in the trop- 

 ics, especially in America. The largest genus is Cuphea 

 with about 160 species. The family is closely related 

 to the Onagracea, but differs in the superior ovary; it 

 is also related to the Melastomacese, but the sta- 

 mens are normal. 



Lythrum Salicaria has been used as an astringent; 

 Heimia and Cuphea have been used as purgatives and 

 emetics. Lawsonia inermis of Egypt is the famous 

 henna, the perfume of the flower of which is renowned 

 throughout the East; with an orange-red dye obtained 

 from the leaves of this plant, women of the orient dye 

 hair and nails. Pemphis acidula is used as a pot-herb 

 in Asia. The flowers of Woodfardia floribunda yield the 

 red dye of India called dhak. Lagerstroemia furnishes 

 very valuable timber. 



In cultivation in N. America are several genera: Cu- 

 phea, species of garden annuals; Decodon (Swamp 

 Loosestrife), native, but used for water-gardens ; Lyth- 

 rum (Loosestrife); Lawsonia (Henna), cultivated in 

 southern Florida and southern California; Lagerslrce- 

 mia indica (Crape Myrtle) cultivated in the South. 



160. Punicaceae (from the genus Punica, derived 

 from the Latin in reference to Carthage, near which 

 city the plant is said to have grown; or from the Latin 

 meaning scarlet, in reference to the flowers). POME- 

 GRANATE FAMILY. Fig. 42. Shrubs or commonly small 

 trees: leaves mostly opposite: flowers bisexual, usually 

 perigynous; receptacle campanulate or tubular, thick- 

 ened above the ovary; sepals 5^8, fleshy, valvate; 

 petals 5-7, imbricated, inserted with the sepals on the 

 edge of the receptacle; stamens very numerous, clothing 

 the tube of the receptacle; carpels in 1-2 (rarely 3) 

 superimposed series, 3 in the lower and usually 5-7 in 

 the upper; ovary more or less inferior, with as many 

 cells as carpels; placentae of the lower series axile, of the 

 upper parietal, the cells many-ovuled; style and stigma 

 1: fruit a berry, the pulpy central mass of which is 

 formed from the fleshy outer seed-coats. 



This is a family of only 1 genus and 2 species, na- 

 tives of the Mediterranean region and eastward to the 

 Himalayas. It was formerly united with the Lythra- 

 cese, but the peculiar ovary is unique. Punica Grana- 

 tum is the famous pomegranate, cultivated for its fruit 

 since the earliest times, and now widely spread over 

 the tropics. This species is cultivated in the southern 

 states and in greenhouses. It has escaped in Florida. 



161. Lecythidaceae (from the genus Lecythia, derived 

 from the Greek meaning an oil-jar, in reference to the 

 fruit). LECYTHIA FAMILY. Fig. 43. Trees: leaves alter- 

 nate, large and striking: flowers bisexual, regular, perigy- 

 nous or epigynous; sepals 4-6, rarely fewer, valvate; 

 petals 46, imbricated, rarely more or fewer; stamens 

 very numerous, somewhat monadelphous, many anther- 

 less; intra-staminal disk often present; ovary inferior, 

 2-6-celled, several ovules in each cell: fruit a hard- 

 shelled berry or a capsule dehiscing by a lid. 



The family has 18 genera and about 225 species, 

 with a somewhat isolated distribution in various parts 

 of the tropics, e.g., North Brazil, west coast of Africa, 

 Malay Peninsula, Mozambique, and Samoa. The fam- 

 ily was formerly united with the Myrtacese but is dis- 

 similar in some important details of vascular structure, 

 and in the absence of volatile oils. 



The most important economic plant is the Brazil- 

 nut or para-nut (Berlhollelia excelsa) of northern 

 South America, the oily seeds of which are an impor- 

 tant article of food. The seeds are in a box-like capsule, 

 the lid of which falls off. The oily seeds of several other 

 species are eaten, e.g., the monkey-pot tree (Lecythis). 

 The fruits and roots of a number of species of Bar- 

 ringtonia are used in Java and China to stupefy fish. 

 The flowers of Grias cauliflora of the West Indies are 

 used for tea. A cooling drink is made from the fruit of 

 Couroupita guianensis of the West Indies. 



The Brazil-nut or nigger-toe is sparingly planted in 

 southern California, Florida and the West Indies. 



162. Rhizophoracese (from the genus Rhizophora, 

 root-bearing, because of the numerous aerial roots). 

 MANGROVE FAMILY. Fig. 43. Trees or shrubs: leaves 

 usually opposite, coriaceous: flowers bisexual, epigynous 

 or perigynous; sepals 3-14, more or less connate, valvate; 

 petals of the same number, small, often lacerate; 

 stamens 2-4 times as many, often in pairs opposite the 

 petals; ovary inferior, usually 2-5-celled: fruit some- 

 what juicy, crowned with the calyx, rarely dehiscent, 

 usually a berry, rarely a drupe. 



The 15 genera and about 50 species are distributed 

 throughout the tropics. The family is related to the 

 Combretacese and Lythracese; more distantly to the 

 other families of the myrtaceous group. 



This is a small family of remarkable plants, mostly 

 inhabiting mud-flats along the coast in the tropics. 

 The stem soon perishes at the base and then the plant 

 is supported by its numerous prop-roots alone. The 

 mud is so soft that otherwise the plants could probably 

 not remain erect. The genus Rhizophora is almost 

 unique in the vegetable kingdom because the seeds germi- 



