YNOPSIS OF THE PLANT KINGDOM 



27 



Order 29. /'roteales 



59. Proteaceae (from thf- p;onus Protea, from Proteus, 

 a self-tninsforming .sea-god, in allusion to the great di- 

 versity of the genus). PiiOTK.v l'\\Mii,Y. Fig. 17. Shrubs 

 or trees, rarely herbs: leaves alternate: flowers bisexual, 

 rarely unise.\ual, regular or irregular; perianth of one 

 series, parts 4, separate or variously united, or labiate, 

 valvate; stamens 4, opposite the perianth parts, 

 hypogynous or inserted on the perianth; hypogynous 

 stalk (gynophore) usually developed, often bearing a 

 ring of seales, or swelhngs, or a cup; carpel 1; ovary 

 superior, 1-celled; ovules 1 to several; style slender; 

 stigma slender or enlarged : fruit un.symmetrical, capsu- 

 lar, drui^aceous, or luit-Uke, or a samara or follicle; 

 seeds sometimes wingetl. 



There are 49 genera and about 1,000 species, mostly 

 Australian, but many also in South Africa, and a few 

 in South .Vmerica. The largest genera are Grevillea, 

 with 160 species; and Hakea, with 100 species. The 

 family is perhaps distantly related to the Loranthaceee, 

 Santalacese, and Urticacea?, but the relationship is 

 httle understood. The 4 valvate sepals, 4 stamens, 

 and the unsymmetrical, 1-celled ovary, raised on an 

 ai)pendaged gynophore are distinctive. The small 

 flowers are usually aggregated in heads or spikes 

 surrounded by bracts. The Proteacea^, for the most 

 part , inhabit countries in which a very dry windy season 

 alternates with a rainy season, and many of them are 

 wliite-hairy. 



Grenllea robusta, Knightia excelsa, Embothrium. 

 coccineum, Leucospermum conocarinim (redwood), and 

 I'rolea grandiflora (wagen-boom) are useful for timber. 

 The wood of the last species is used for wagon- 

 wheels. The seeds of .several species are eaten. A bit- 

 t<T principle is found in Leucadetulron argentcuin of 

 Africa; a gum resin in Gmrillea robusta of Australia. 

 A golden dye is obtained from the Australian Persoonia 

 saccata. Gevuina avellana (Chilean hazelnut) furnishes 

 an edible fruit, as does also Brabeium steUatifolium 

 (wild chestnut of South Africa), and Macadamia 

 tcrnifolia (Queensland nut). Banksia and Protea fur- 

 nish important bee-plants. 



The genera in cultivation in America are mostly the 

 following: Banksia; Gevuina (Chilean Nut, Chile Hazel), 

 grown in California; Grevillea (Silk Oak), in greenhouse 

 and California; Leucadendron (Silver Tree of the Cape), 

 grown in California; Macadamia (Australian Nut), in 

 southern California; Protea, in southern California; 

 Tclopea (Waratah, Warratau), in California. 



Order .30. Santalales 



60. LoranthaceEB (from the genus Loranlhus, meaning 

 thong flower, significance not clear). Mistletoe Family. 

 Fig. 17. Herbs or subshrubs, parasites or half- 

 parasites, with or without chlorophyll, rarely rooted 

 in the earth: leaves usually opposite, rarely alternate, 

 thick and green, or reduced to scales: flowers bisexual 

 or unisexual, usually regular; receptacle of the pi.stillate 

 flower cup-shaped, united with the ovary;' perianth 

 undifferentiated, usually in 2 series of 2 or .3 parts each, 

 f>f which the outer may be calyx and the inner corolla; 

 stamens as many as the parts of the perianth and oppo- 

 site them, free, or united with the perianth; ovary 1- 

 celled, inferior; ovule 1, orthotropous; stigma 1, often 

 sessile: fruit a 1-seeded berry. 



The 21 genera and about 600 species are mostly 

 inhabitants of tropical countries, but extend into the 

 temperate zone. One species reaches Newfoundland. 

 Ixiranthus, the largest genus, contains 200 species, and 

 Phoradendron contains 80 .species. The family is 

 related to the Santalacea> and Proteacea>. The habit, 

 the cup-shaped receptacle, the po.sition and number of 

 the .stamens, and the 1-celled, l-,seedcd fruit are dis- 

 tinctive. The fruits are often very viscid and easily 

 become fastened to the branches of trees where they 



germinate and grow. The inflorescenee is often much 

 reduced and inconspicuous. 



The viscid substance of the fruit is called birdlime, 

 and is used for catching small birds. Various species 

 have been used locally as medicine. The mistletoe 

 {Viscum album) of Europe was worshipped by the 

 Gauls. When gathered from the oak it was considered 

 sacred by the Druids. 



Phoradendron flavesccns (American mistletoe) is 

 gathered and sold in the market. 



61. SantalacejB (from the genus Sanlalum, the 

 Latin name for sandalwood). Sandalwood Family. 

 A family closely related to the Loranthaceie, from which 

 it differs only in the more numerous ovules and the 

 general habit. The Santalacea; are commonly inde- 

 pendent plants or root parasites, while the Loranthacese 

 are usually aerial parasites. 



The Santalaceiie consists of 26 genera and about 2.50 

 species, in the temperate and tropical regions. 



1- vu 



17. Uhticace.e: 1. Urtica, a, male flower; b, female flower; c, 

 female flower, vertical section. Proteace^: 2. Banksia, a, in- 

 florescence; 6, flower. 3. Protea, flower. 4. a and 6, pistils of Pro- 

 teacete. Loranthaceee; 5. Phoradendron, j, inflorescence; 6, 

 vertical section inflorescence. Olacace.e: 6. Lirioama, flower. 7. 

 Liriosma, floral diagram. 



The aromatic and sweet-scented wood of the tree, 

 Sanlalum album, has been used medicinally, and is 

 used in perfumery and cabinet-making. Other species 

 of Santalum, also of Fusanus, Acanthosyris, Colpoon, 

 and Exocarpus are also used in cabinet work. The 

 sweet flesh of the fruit of some species, the thickened 

 pedicels or oily seeds of others, are edible. 



Queer tendril-like bruslies on the fruits of the reduced 

 aerijil genus Myzodendron of South America serve as 

 flying organs and later twine about the support. 



Buckleya of the southeastern United States is some- 

 times cultivated ; also Pyrularia. 



62. Olacaceae (from the genus Olax, signifying a fur- 

 row, application unknown). Olax F.\mily. Fig. 17. 

 Trees or shrubs, sometimes twining or climbing, with 

 alternate, entire leaves: flowers mostly bisexual, regu- 

 lar; perianth single, the divisions (sepals?) 4-5, rarely 6, 



