LAURACEAE 147 



Flowers usually axillary, small, white, yellowish or greenish, perfect 

 or unisexual, sometimes dioecious or polygamo-dioecious. Perianth 

 regular, simple, without petals (apetalous), gamosepalous (the sepals 

 more or less united) , forming a short tube with 6-9 lobes (rarely 4) . In 

 some genera the lobes are deciduous, in others persisting and adhering 

 to the base of the fruit. Stamens as many as and inserted on the 

 perianth lobes, (perigynous) or a multiple of them; alternately fertile 

 and sterile (staminodes) and with or without glands at the base. Anthers 

 2 or 4 celled, opening by trap-door-like valves from below.' Ovary 

 1-celled, 1-ovuled (rarely 2 ovules), the ovules pendulous, anatropous. 

 Fruit usually a berry, rarely a drupe or dry, globose or ellipsoid in form, 

 usually on a thickened pedicel or narrowed at the base by the more or 

 less thickened calyx-tube. Seed solitary, without albumen (exalbuminous) 

 and with straight embryo and superior radicle. 



This family includes about 40 genera and nearly 1,000 described 

 species of trees and shrubs. They are most widely distributed in warm 

 or tropical regions, comparatively few being found in temperate climates. 

 The type of the genus is Laurus nobilis, the Royal Ray-tree, of the 

 Mediterranean region. 



The aromatic character of most species makes them particularly 

 valuable as furnishers of spices and stimulants. A few are regarded as 

 poisonous. 



Among the better known products of the family are Camphor, 

 Cinnamon, Cassia buds, and the Avocado or Alligator Pear {Persea 

 gratissime). The wood of many species is beautiful, enduring and easily 

 worked, and is in much demand for furniture and cabinet making. 



In China the finest w-oods are produced from the " Qhapgshu " or 

 camphor trees and from species of Lindera, Machilus and Phoebe which 

 are commonly known as " Xanmu " in various forms. 



KEY TO GENERA 



I. Leaves deciduous, entire or 1-3 lobed. 



A. Flowers in long-stalked umbels; anthers 4 celled. .Sassafras. 



B. Flowers in short-stalked clusters or umbels; anthers 2-celled 

 Linden' 



