ORDER CXV. BALSAMIFLU^E. ORDER CXVm. CONIFERS. 



125 



Fig. 83. 



GROUP VH. 

 ORDER CXY. Balsamifluee. 



Trees, with palmately-lobed, alternate leaves. Stipules de- 

 ciduous. Flowers monrecious in globular aments, achlamydeous. 

 Anthers numerous, nearly sessile, with scales intermixed. Ovary 

 2-celled, surrounded by scales. Styles 2. Capsules 2-celled, 2- 

 beaked, opening between the beaks, indurated in fruit, and form- 

 ing a kind of strobile. Seeds several-winged. 



An order consisting solely of the genus Liqoidambar, of which one species 

 extends as far north as Connecticut. 



ORDER CXYI. Platanaceae. 



Trees. Leaves alternate, palmately-lobed. Stipules scarious, 

 sheathing. Flowers monoecious, achlamydeous, in globose aments. 

 Stamens solitary, mingled with small scales. Anthers linear, 2- 

 celled. Ovary 1-celled, tipped with a thick style, stigmatic on 

 one side. Fruit a 1-seeded, clavate nut, surrounded at base by 

 bristly hairs. 



An order consisting merely of the different species of Platanus (Plane-tree, 

 Buttonwood, Sycamore). 



GROUP VIII. 

 ORDER CXVII. Urticacese. 



Trees, or shrubs, usually with a milky or yellowish juice ; or 

 herbs with a watery juice. Leaves alternate or opposite, often 

 rough or hispid, with stinging hairs, frequently stipulate. Flow- 

 ers monoecious, dioecious, or polygamous, in panicles, aments, or 



fleshy heads. Calyx regular, persistent, rarely wanting, usually 

 3 5-parted. Stamens definite, distinct, inserted on the base of 

 the calyx, usually as many as its lobes, and opposite them. 

 Ovary free from the calyx, 1-ovuled. Style 1. Fruit a 1-seeded 

 utricle, surrounded by the membranous or fleshy calyx. 



A very large family, assuming a great variety of forms. The milky juice of 

 this order is acrid and injurious, often highly poisonous. It abounds especially 

 in caoutchouc, which is yielded in great abundance by several 8. American and 

 E. Indian trees of this order. The famous Cow-tree, which yields a rich whole- 

 some milk, is, however, an exception to the deadly qualities of this juice. 

 Bohon Upas, one of the most fearful of poisons, is the concrete juice of another 

 arborescent species, native of the Indian Islands. But the fruits are generally 

 innocent, and often edible and delicious. Such are the Bread-fruit, produced by 

 two species of Artocarpus, the Fig, and the Mulberry. The celebrated Banian, 

 figure 14, Plate VI., yields the Gum-Lac, which is an exudation from its 

 branches. The stinging hairs of the Nettles are known by experience to every 

 one. The tough fibres of their stems, and also of Hemp (Cannabis). are used 

 for cordage, coarse strong cloths, and bagging. The leaves of the Hemp are 

 also used in the East, on account of their stimulant and narcotic properties, to 

 produce intoxication. Hops consist of the dried strobiles, or aments, of the 

 Humnlus Lupulus. The principle which gives them their power, exists chiefly 

 in the yellow, resinous grains, that cover the scales and fruit. 



SUBCLASS II. GYMNOSPERMS. 



Ovules not inclosed in an ovary, possessing no pericarp, and 

 becoming naked seeds. The carpel is sometimes represented by 

 an open scale, and sometimes is wholly wanting. 



ORDER CXVIII. Coniferee. 



Trees, or shrubs; the wood abounding in a resinous juice 

 Leaves acerose, or scale-like, almost always evergreen. Flowers 

 monoecious, or dioecious, entirely destitute of calyx and corolla. 

 Stamens 1, or more, often monadelphous, forming a sort of loose 

 ament. Fertile flowers usually in aments, consisting of open car- 

 pellary scales, sometimes solitary and destitute of any form of 



