418 MAGNOLIACEjE. [Hypogtnous Exogens. 



rather to be polygamous, and therefore has no claim to be regarded as an exception to the 

 hermaphrodite character of this Order ; the tendency, however, in that genus to unisex- 

 uality corroborates the opinion of some Botanists, that Magnohads approach certain dicli- 

 nous Orders included in the Urtical Alliance, as is indicated by their large convolute 

 stipules, which are very like those of Figs and other genera of Morads. Tasmannia is, 

 indeed, quite an anomalous plant. It is so nearly related to the aromatic Winter s Bark, 

 Drimys Winteri, from which its unisexual flowers and solitary carpels chiefly distinguish 

 it, that it must follow the affinity of that plant. For this reason it seems necessary to 

 associate it with the Order of Magnohads rather than with that of Kadsurads or Anon- 

 ads The three Orders are generally distinguished by the following characters :— Mag- 

 nohads are bisexual, have stipules of large size, and their flowers have an imbricated 

 {estivation. Kadsurads resemble them in all things, except the want of stipules, and 

 their flowers being absolutely unisexual. Anonads are bisexual hke Magnohads, but 

 they have no stipules, their corolla is valvate, and their albumen ruminate. Moreover 

 Magnohads are astringent sub-aromatic trees or bushes ; Anonads are similar m quality, 

 but°they are more aromatic ; Kadsurads are scrambling plants with no aroma. If we 

 regard the aromatic quality of Tasmannia, it will belong to either Magnohads or Anon- 

 ads ; but from the former it differs in the want of stipules, from the latter in its imbri- 

 cated corolla, and from both in its unisexual flowers. On the other hand it has the 

 unisexual flowers of Kadsurads, but not their habit nor their mucilaginous qualities. Its 

 unisexual flowers, however, point strongly in the direction of Kadsurads ; but then it is 

 not separable from Drimys, which is bisexual, and, moreover, its own flowers are in 

 reality in many cases furnished with a central carpel. Tasmannia must then be regarded 

 as having a manifest tendency towards hermaphroditism, while no such attribute is 

 known among Kadsurads. For these reasons it will be stationed along with Drimys 

 among bisexual Natural Orders, and then will necessarily fall into the ranks of Mag- 

 nohads ; for its imbricated corolla and homogeneous albumen are at variance with the 

 most essential peculiarity of Anonads. It, however, like Drimys itself, wants the sti- 

 pules of Magnohads, in which respect it is exceptional to the usual character of that 

 Natural Order, and must be regarded as a genus stationed on the frontier between 

 Kadsurads and Magnohads. The small perigynous Order of Calycanths is moreover so 

 like Ilhcium in appearance, and there is so much resemblance between them in their 

 separate carpels, that, although their affinity is by no means direct, yet we must suppose 

 that some cross relationship exists between them. According to Blume, the umbilical 

 cord, which is so remarkably extensible in some of these plants, is wholly composed of 

 a multitude of dehcate spiral vessels. 



The focus of the Order is undoubtedly North America, where the woods, the swamps, 

 and the sides of the hills abound with the species. Thence they straggle, on the one 

 hand, into the West India Islands, and on the other, into India, through China and 

 Japan. Brown remarks {Congo, 465), that no species have been found on the continent 

 of Africa, or any of the adjoining islands. 



The general character of the plants of this Order is to have a bitter tonic taste, ana 

 fragrant flowers. The latter produce a decided action upon the nerves; Magnolia 

 tripetala, according to De Candolle, induces sickness and headache ; and on the authority 

 of Barton, Magnolia glauca is so stimulating as to produce paroxysms of fever, and 

 even an attack of inflammatory gout. The bark has been found to be destitute of tan- 

 nin and gallic acid, notwithstanding its intense bitterness. None of the species can he 

 said to have eatable fruits. Among the most fragrant are the Tsjampac or Champaca, 

 a species of Michelia so called, which is the delight of the people of Hindostan ; the 

 Magnolia grandiflora, one of the noblest of evergreen trees ; Magnolia pumila, well known 

 in green-houses for its brownish-green flowers ; while the Yulan, Magnoha conspicua, 

 is unrivalled among northern trees for the surpassing brilliancy of its large and snow- 

 white flowers upon gray and naked branches. As tonics many have great value. The 

 Swamp Sassafras, or Beaver tree (Magnolia glauca), has a bitter and aromatic bark, 

 resembling and even rivalling in its qualities Cinchona. It is particularly useful in 

 chronic rheumatism, whether the bark, seeds, or cones are employed. The same 

 qualities are recognised in Liriodendron tuhpifera, the seeds of Magnoha Yulan, called 

 in China Tsin-y, grandiflora, and others. All the parts of Michelia Tsjampaca appear 

 to be powerfully stimulant. Of Magnolia Frazeri (auriculata, Bartr.), and M. acumi- 

 nata, both ealted Cucumber-trees in the United States, the bitter and somewhat aromatic 

 infusion of the green cone3 in whisky or brandy is extensively used against inter- 

 mittent fevers, and also in rheumatic affections. The tonic qualities of these plants are 

 partly owing to their aromatic secretions, which sometimes become very intense. The 

 Aromadendron elegaus of Java is one of the most remarkable, and has a great local 

 reputation as a stomachic, antihysteric, and carminative. Michelia montana bark is 



