CLASSIFICATION OF ANGIOSPERMS. 359 



Butyrospermum, that from the latter being known as " shea 

 butter." 



The family is notable on account of the hard woods, known as 

 Ironwoods, which it furnishes, these being yielded by Mimnsops 

 Kauki of Farther India and tropical Australia and Argaiiia Sidc- 

 roxylon of Southwestern Morocco. 



A number of species also yield highly prized edible fruits, as 

 the Sapotilla yielded by Achras Sapota indigenous to the Antil- 

 les and cultivated in tropical countries, and Star apple yielded 

 by Chrysophyllum Cainito of tropical America. 



b. EBENACE^ OR EBONY FAMILY. The plants differ 

 from those of the preceding family in not containing a latex. 

 The flowers are monoecious or dicecious and they usually have 

 from two to eight styles. The chief interest is in the genus 

 Diospxros, which yields the wood known as ebony. Black ebony 

 is obtained from various species of Diospyros growing in tropical 

 Africa, and Asia, and the Philippine Islands. White ebony is 

 obtained from several species of Diospyros growing in the Philip- 

 pines. A red ebony is obtained from D. rubra of Mauritius, a 

 green ebony from D. cliloroxyloii of Farther India, and a striped 

 ebony from several species growing in the Philippines. 



Persimmon fruit is obtained from Diospyros virginiana, a 

 tree growing from Rhode Island south to Texas. The astrin- 

 gency of the unripe fruit is due to the tannin which it contains. 

 When it is ripe, which is not until after the appearance of frost, 

 it is palatable and contains considerable malic acid and sugars. 

 The Japanese persimmon is a cultivated variety of D. Kaki and 

 produces a large orange-colored fruit which is not uncommon in 

 the fruit markets in many parts of the world. At the present 

 time the plant is cultivated in California. 



The bark of our native persimmon is used in medicine. It 

 contains considerable tannin which resembles gallotannic acid, 

 and a crystalline resinous principle with a peculiar odor and 

 slightly astringent taste. 



c. STYRACE.E OR STORAX FAMILY. The flowers of 

 this family somewhat resemble those of the Ebenacese. but the 

 filaments of the stamens are united in a single series, and there 

 is a single slender style. 



