A SYNOPSIS OF THE PLANT KINGDOM 



63 



iacum), galbanum (a resin from species of Ferula). 

 From various species of Ferula is obtained the vile- 

 smelling gum-resin asafetida, used in medicine, which 

 the Persians are said to praise as a delicious condiment. 

 There are 40-50 genera in cultivation in America, 

 mostly hardy. Some are grown for food, others for 

 ornament: Sea Holly (Eryngium); Sanicle, or 

 locally Black Snakeroot (Sanicula); Carrot (Daucus); 

 Coriander (Coriandrum) ; Cumin (Cuminum); Celery 

 (Apium) ; Caraway (Carum) ; Gout-weed (^Egopodium) ; 

 Sweet Cicely (Osmorhiza) ; Myrrh (not of medicine) or 

 European Sweet Cicely (Myrrhis or, more properly, 

 Scandix); Fennel (Fceniculum) ; Lovage (Levisticum) ; 

 Angelica (Angelica); Cow-parsnip (Heracleum). Poison 

 hemlock (Conium) is a roadside weed. 



171. Cornaceae (from the genus Cornus, derived 

 from the Latin horn, referring to the hardness of the 

 wood). DOGWOOD FAMILY. Trees or shrubs, rarely 

 herbs: leaves opposite or alternate, entire, exstipulate: 

 flowers bisexual, rarely unisexual, regular, epigynous; 

 sepals 4, minute or absent; petals 4, usually valvate; 

 stamens commonly of same number as petals and 

 alternate with them, separate; epigynous disk usually 

 present; ovary inferior, 2-celled, rarely 1-10-celled; 

 ovules in each cell 1, rarely 2: fruit a drupe or berry. 



The 15 genera and about 120 species, of which 45 

 species belong to the genus Cornus, are distributed in 

 the temperate portions of the northern hemisphere, 

 principally in North America and Asia; some, how- 

 ever, occur in South Africa and New Zealand. The 

 relationships of the family are doubtful. Cornus is 

 related to the Caprifoliacese, but some other genera 

 suggest the Araliaceae. The woody or sub-ligneous 

 habit, 4-merous, polypetalous, epigynous flowers and 

 the berry-like fruit with one seed in each cell are .dis- 

 tinctive. 



Many species of Cornus have capitate flowers sur- 

 rounded by a large petaloid involucre (e.g., Cornus 

 mas, C. florida, C. canadensis). C. canadensis and C. 

 suecica are herbaceous dogwoods. Helwingia rusciflora, 

 of China and Japan, is a most remarkable plant with 

 flowers borne at the center of the leaf-blade attached to 

 the midrib on the upper side. 



The acid fruits of C. mas are edible, and are used 

 as a sherbet in the East. Those of C. capilata of the 

 Himalayas have a flavor like strawberries and are 

 eaten. Many Cornaceae are ornamental woody plants. 



Several genera are in cultivation here, of which may 

 be mentioned: Cornus (Dogwood, Osier Dogwood); 

 Aucuba, from Japan; Garrya from southern United 

 States; Griselinia from New Zealand; Nyssa (Sour 

 Gum, Pepperidge, Tupelo) from the eastern United 

 States. Garrya, Nyssa and others have been separated 

 by some into other families. 



Sub-class II. Mekichlamydex, or Sympetalx 

 Order 46. ERICALES 



172. Clethraceae (from the genus Clethra, the ancient 

 Greek name of Alder). PEPPERBDSH, or WHITE ALDER 

 FAMILY. Fig. 46. Tall shrubs or low trees: leaves 

 alternate: flowers bisexual, regular, hypogynous; disk 

 absent; calyx 5-parted, persistent; corolla saucer- 

 shaped, of 5 separate petals; stamens 10, hypogynous; 

 anthers opening by terminal pores, at first, inverted, 

 later erect; ovary superior, 3-celled; style 1; stigmas 

 3; ovules numerous: fruit a capsule. 



A single genus and about 30 species are distributed 

 in the tropical and subtropical regions of both hemi- 

 spheres; mostly American. Two species reach the 

 eastern United States. The family is closely related 

 to the Pyrolacesp and Ericaceae. The polypetalous 

 corolla, temporarily inverted anthers and the 3-celled 

 ovary are important characteristics. There is one 

 fossil species known. 



A few species of Clethra are grown in North America 



for ornamental purposes. C. alnifolia is the native 

 white alder or sweet pepperbush. 



173. Pyrolaceae (from the genus Pyrola, diminutive 

 of Pyrus; possibly a resemblance in the foliage). SHIN- 

 LEAF FAMILY. Fig. 46. Very low perennial herbs: 



46. CLETHRACE.: 1. Clethra, o, flower; 6, cross-section ovary. 

 PYROLACE.E: 2. Pyrola, a, flower; 6, floral diagram. ERICA- 

 CE.E: 3. Andromeda, flower. 4. Kalmta, flower. 5. Rhododen- 

 dron, flower. 6. Erica, stamen. 7. Vaccinium, a, flower; b, stamen. 



leaves alternate, basal or scattered, thick and ever- 

 green in most species: flowers bisexual, regular, with or 

 without a hypogynous disk; calyx 5-parted, persistent; 

 corolla waxy, saucer-shaped, of 5 separate petals; sta- 

 mens 10, hypogynous; anthers opening by terminal 

 pores, inverted; ovary superior, 5-celled, many-ovuled; 

 style and stigma 1 : fruit a capsule. 



There are 3 genera and 20 species distributed in the 

 boreal and temperate parts of Europe, Asia and 

 America. The polypetalous flowers, inverted anthers 

 and 5 carpels are characteristic. The family is closely 

 related to the Ericaceae and Clethraceae. 



Two species of Chimaphila (Pipsissewa, Prince's 

 Pine), one species of Moneses (One-flowered Pyrola), 

 and a few species of Pyrola (Shinleaf ) are offered in the 

 American trade for ornamental purposes. Otherwise 

 the family is of no economic importance. 



174. Monotropaceae (from the genus Monotropa, 

 meaning one turn, in reference to the nodding flower). 

 INDIAN-PIPE FAMILY. Low, saprophytic herbs, without 

 chlorophyll, white, yellowish, brownish, or blood-red 

 in color: leaves alternate, reduced to scales: flowers 

 1 to several, bisexual, regular, a lobed, hypogynous disk 

 sometimes present; calyx 5-parted, rarely 0; corolla of 

 4-5, separate, gibbous petals, these rarely coherent; 

 stamens 8-10, hypogynous; anthers opening by slits, 

 1-2-celled, often appendaged; ovary 4-5-celled, supe- 

 rior, many-ovuled; style and stigma 1: fruit a capsule. 



The Indian-pipe family contains 8 genera and about 

 12 species, all North American except 1 Himalayan 

 species and 1 found in both Europe and America; 

 most abundant in the West. The family is closely 

 related to the Ericaceae, PyrolaceaB and Clethraceae, 

 from which it differs mainly in method of nutrition. 



