946 ARBORF.TUM AND FRUTICETUM. PART HI. 



CHAP. XLVII. 



OF THE HARDY LIGNEOUS PLANTS OF THE ORDER TAMARICA V CE/E. 



THIS order consists of two genera ; and the most of its characteristics 

 are included in the generic characters which are given below. 

 TA'MARIX Desv. Calyx persistent, parted into 45 lobes that are subimbri- 

 cately aestivated. Petals 4 5, inserted into the base of the calyx, alternate 

 with its lobes, imbricate in aestivation, withering. Stamens 4 5, alternate 

 with the petals ; the filaments almost wholly distinct from one another. 

 Ovary free of the calyx, ovate-pyramidate, triangular, with a long taper 

 termination. Stigmas 3, long, divaricate, glandulose at the tip, oblique. 

 Capsule with 3 angles, 3 valves, 1 cell, and many seeds. Seeds inserted 

 into the very base of the valves, or nearly into the centre of the capsule, 

 erect, each bearing at its tip a coma of many simple hairs. There is not 

 any albumen. Embryo straight; its radicle small, inferior; its cotyledons 

 flat-convex, oblong. Flowers small, in spikes : these, in many instances, 

 are disposed in panicles. (Dec. Prod., iii. p. 95.) 



MYRICA^RIA Desv. Calyx parted into 5 lobes. Petals 5. Stamens 10; 

 every alternate one shorter ; the filaments of all connate from the base to 

 about the middle of their length. There is not any style. Stigmas con- 

 nate into a little head. Seeds inserted along a line in the middle of each 

 valve of the capsule, ascending, ending in a plumy thread. Flowers in 

 terminal, simplish spikes. (Dec. Prod., iii. p. 97.) 



These genera were originally included under one genus, T&marix ; the 

 separation being made on account of the above technical distinctions. " The 

 plants of the genus jTamarix," Royle observes, " are distributed over a wide 

 extent of territory in the Old World; from 10 to 50 and 55 of N. lat. in 

 Europe and Siberia; and from the Canaries and Senegambia on the west, 

 to China on the east. They differ as much in their localities as in their 

 latitudes ; being found on the shores of the ocean, or the banks of rivers (as 

 the Ganges and the Nile), as well in the arid and sandy parts of Northern 

 India and the Punjab, as in the cold and elevated climates of Tibet and Siberia : 

 but in these the soil is saline. The genus Myricaria, existing in Europe, 

 Siberia, and Dahuria, is found also in Kunawur, and in the country crossed 

 by Mr. Moorcroft in his journey to Manasarowur." (Illustrations, $c., p. 2J3.) 

 There are two species of Tamarix common in India; viz. T. indica and 

 T. dioica. " The former, found on the banks of the Ganges, and other rivers, 

 as well as on the coast of Coromandel, has been referred, by some authors, to 

 T. gallica, with which it is closely allied ; and, if identical, the circumstance 

 will afford an additional instance of the great extent over which a species may 

 spread, when growing in the vicinity of water. T. Furas Hamilt. is the T. 

 orientalis of Forskahl, and is common in the drier parts of the Doab, and at 

 Delhi; and also in Arabia and Egypt. Myricaria, the other genus of this 

 order, includes T&marix germanica, which extends from Europe to the Cau- 

 casus : other species, or perhaps varieties, are found in Siberia and Dahuria, 

 and two in the Himalayas." (Ibid.) Tamarix gallica and Myricaria germanica, 

 are almost the only plants of this order found in British gardens. The former 

 is interesting, from its ascending spreading stems, numerous slender branches, 

 abundant minute foliage, and its plentiful panicles of racemes, of pale rosy 

 flowers; M. germanica is interesting from its close upright habit of growth, 

 glaucous hue, and evergreen foliage. 



The Properties of the Tamaricacea; are considered to be bitterness and 

 astringency ; and hence " the occasional employment of the European species 

 as a tonic, and as a substitute for hops, in making beer, in Denmark. In India, 

 also, the twigs of T. indica and T. dioica are considered astringent ; but the 

 plants are more valued on account of the galls that are found on them, and 



