ORDER 67. RTJBIACE.E. 399 



Torrey and Gray. The species of the first suborder, Stellate*, are common in the northern parts 

 of both continents; the other suborder prevails chiefly in warm or torrid regions. 



Properties. A very important family, furnishing rnuny useful products. The madder one 

 of the most important ot dyes, is lurnished by the root of liubia tinctoria. A similar coloring 

 matter is possessed by several species of Galium. Peruvian bark, a powerful febrifuce is th 

 product of several species of Cinchona, viz., <J. micranthia, C. condaminea, C. lanceolata, C. maff- 

 mfolia, &c , all natives of Peru. Their febrifugal properties depend upon the presence of two 

 alkalies, Cinchoma and Quima, both combined with Kinic acid. Ipecacuanha, the prince of 

 emetics, is the product ol the root of Cephselis Ipecacuanha, a little shrubby plant with creeping 

 roots, in the damp forests ot Brazil. Several other species of Cinchonese afford substitutes for 

 the true Ipecac. 



Coffee is the hard albumen of the seeds of Coffea Arabica, a tree of moderate size, with a licht 

 brown trunk, and a conical shaped head. Leaves shining, light green. Flowers white fragrant 

 The berries are black when ripe. Coffee is said to have been used in Ethiopia from time imme- 

 uiorial. In Paris and London it seems not to have been in general use earlier than the year 1700. 



SUBORDERS AND GENERA. 

 1 STELLATED. Leaves (and leaf-like stipules ?) whorled. Ovary entirely adherent, (a) 



a Flowers 4-parted. Fruit twin. Slender herbs with square stems GALICM. 1 



a Flowers 5-parted. Fruit twin, fleshy and baccate. Stems square RUBIA. 2 



2. CINCHONE^E. Leaves opposite, with stipules between the petioles. Ovary 

 adherent, at least the lower half, (b) 



b Tree. Flowers 5-parted, in involucrate cymes PINKNEYA. 3 



b Shrub. Flowers 4-parted, in globular heads CEPHALANTHUS. 4 



b Herbs. Flowers habitually 4-parted (5-parted in O. Halei). (c) 



C Flowers twin (2 corollas on one (double) ovary) MITCHELLA. 5 



C Flowers not twin. Carpels 2, 1-seeded, both indehiscent DIODIA. 6 



Carpels 2, 1-seeded, one indehiscent SPERM ACOCE. 7 



Carpels 2, few-seeded. Corolla much exserted.HocsTONiA. 8 



Carpels 2, CO -seeded. Corolla scarcely ex- 



serted OLDENLANDI A 9 



1. GALLIUM, L. CLEAVERS. BEDSTRAW. (Gr. yaAa, milk; the 

 /lowers of G. verum are used in coagulating milk.) Calyx limb minutely 

 4-toothcd ; corolla rotate, 4-cleft ; stamens 4, short ; styles 2 ; carpels 

 2, united, separating into 2, 1-seeded, indehiscent nutlets. Herbs with 

 slender, 4 angled sts. Verticels of 4, 6 or 8 Ivs., rarely of 5. 



a Flowers yellow. Leaves in whorls of about 8. Fruit smooth No. 1 



a Flowers dull purple. Leaves (large) in whorls of 4. Fruit hispid or not Nos. 2 4 



a Flowers white. Leaves in 4s only. Fruit dry. Panicle terminal No. 5 



Leaves in 4s only. Fruit smooth, purple berries Nos. 6, T 



Leaves in 4s and 6s. Fruit hispid with hooked hairs , No. 8 



Fruit smooth or nearly so, dry Nos. 9 11 



Leaves in 8s, long and narrow. Fruit hispid No. 12 



1 G. verum L. YELLOW BEDSTRAW. Erect ; Ivs. in 8s } grooved, entire, rough, 

 linear; fls. densely paniculate. 11 Found in dry, open grounds, in the vicinity 

 of Boston, probably introduced (Bigelow). Root long, fibrous. St. slender, erect, 

 1 to 2f high, with short, opposite, leafy, unequal branches. Lvs. deflexed, linear, 

 with rolled edges. Fls. numerous, small yellow, in small, dense, terminal pani- 

 cles. Jn. The roots dye red. The flowers aro used in England to curdle milk. 

 Eur. 



2 G. pilosum Ait. St. ascending, hirsute on the angles ; Ivs. in 4s, oval, indis- 

 tinctly veined, hirsute loth sides and punctate with pellucid dots ; ped. several 

 times forked, each division 2 to 3-flowered ; fls. pedicellate, densely hispid. A tall 

 species found in dry woods and sterile soils, Mass, to Ind., S. to the Gul St. 1 

 to 2f high, acutely 4-angled, mostly with few, short, spreading branches, some- 

 times much branched. Lvs. 9 to 12" by 4 to 8", obtusish, very hairy as well as 

 the stem and fruit. Fls. purplish. Jn. (G-. puncticulosum MX.) 



3 G. circae'zans MX. St. erect or ascending, smooth; Ivs. in 4s, oval or ovate- 

 lanceolate, obtuse, 3-veined, smoothish, ciliate on the margins and veins ; ped. di- 

 varicate, few-flowered ; fr. subsessile, nodding, hispid. Grows in woods, U. S. 

 and Can. St. about If in height ; with a few short branches near the top, or 

 simple. Lvs. 1 to 2' by 4 to 8". Fls. on very short, reflexed pedicels, scattered 

 along the (usually 2) branches of the dichotomous peduncle. Fr. covered with 



- little hooks as in Circaa. Jl. The leaves have a sweet taste like liquorice. 



