258 BOTANY AND PHARMACOGNOSY. 



found useful, of which the following may be mentioned : Urtica 

 can nab ilia of Asia, U. dioica, U. urens and Bocliincria nivca of 

 the Sunda Islands and China, the latter of which yields Ramie. 

 The akene of Debregcasia edulis of Japan and the rhizome of 

 Ponzohia tnbcrosa of China and Japan are edible. 



VII. ORDER PROTEALES. 



The members of this group are mostly shrubs and found prin- 

 cipally in the Tropics and southern hemisphere, several species 

 being cultivated in greenhouses for the sake of the beautifully 

 colored flowers which are in crowded inflorescences. The order 

 is represented by but a single family, namely, the Proteacese. 

 The leaves are "leathery and vary even on the same plant from 

 simple to compound. The glucoside proteacin and a bitter prin- 

 ciple are found in Lencadcndron argentenm and L. concinnum. 

 both of Africa. A gum-resin is found in Grcvillca robusta of 

 Australia, and a tannin in the bark of Lontafia obliqna of Chile. 



A golden-yellow coloring principle is obtained from the 

 flowers of Persoonia saccafa of Australia. The w^ood of Protca 

 grandifiora of Abyssinia is used in v/agon building, and Lcuco- 

 sperniiun conocarpuni of Cape Colony yields a valuable red wood 

 and a tan bark. 



Banskia crmnla of Australia and the sugar-bush (Protca inclU- 

 fera) of Australia and P. speciosa have a sugary cell-sap. The 

 oily seeds of the Chilean hazelnut {Gucvina Avcllana) are highly 

 prized as food by the inhabitants. The seeds of Brabciuni stcUati- 

 folinni or wild chestnut of Cape Colony are poisonous when fresh, 

 Init on roasting they become edible and are used as a substitute 

 for coffee. 



VIII. ORDER SANTALALES. 



This order embraces a number of families which are quite 

 distinct in several respects. 



a. LORANTHACE^ OR MISTLETOE FAMILY. The 

 plants are half-parasites with well developed leaves containing 

 chloroplastids. They live on trees by means of haustoria. To 



