EXOGENOUS OR DICOTYLEDONOUS PLANTS. 415 



commerce consists of the leaves of several species of Cassia, of 

 Egypt and Arabia. C. Marilandiea of this country is a succedane- 

 um for the officinal article. — More acrid, or even poisonous prop- 

 erties, are often met with in the order. The roots of Baptisia 

 tinctoria (called Wild Indigo, because it is said to yield a little of 

 that substance), of the Broom, and of the Dyers' Weed (Genista 

 tinctoria, used for dyeing yellow), possess such qualities ; while the 

 seeds of Laburnum, &c. are even narcotico-acrid poisons. The 

 branches and leaves of Tephrosia, and the bark of the root of 

 Piscidia Erythrina (Jamaica Dogwood, which is also found in South- 

 ern Florida), are commonly used in the West Indies for stupefying 

 fish. Cowitch is the stinging hairs of the pods of species of Mu- 

 euna. — Among the numerous valuable timber-trees, our own Locust 

 (Robinia Pseudacacia) must be mentioned ; and also the Rosewood 

 of commerce, the produce of some Brazilian Ca>alpinieo3, Few 

 orders furnish so many plants cultivated for ornament. 



809. Ord. Rosacea {Rose Family). Trees, shrubs, or herbs, with 

 alternate leaves, usually furnished with stipules. Flowers regular. 

 — Calyx of five (rarely three or four) more or less united sepals, 

 and often with as many bracts. Petals as many as the sepals- 

 (rarely none), mostly imbricated in aestivation, perigynous. Sta- 

 mens indefinite, or sometimes few, distinct. Ovaries with solitary 

 or few ovules : styles often lateral. Albumen none. Embryo 

 straight, with broad and fiat or plano-convex cotyledons (Fig. 108- 

 111). — This important order is divided into four suborders; viz.: — 



810. Subord. ClirysobalailCiE {Cocoa-plum Family). This is now 

 generally taken as an independent order, intermediate between 

 Leguminosa; and Rosacea?. Ovary solitary, free from the calyx, or 

 else cohering with it at the base on one side only, containing two 

 erect ovules : style arising from the apparent base. Fruit a drupe. 

 Trees or shrubs. — Ex. Chrysobalanus ; some species of which pro- 

 duce an edible fruit. 



811. Subord. AmygdalcCE {Almond or Plum Family). Ovary soli- 

 tary, free from the deciduous calyx, with two suspended ovules, and 

 a terminal style. Fruit a drupe (Fig. 5G2). Trees or shrubs. — 

 Ex. Amygdalus (the Almond, Peach), Prunus (the Plum), &c. 



812. Subord. Rosacea proper. Ovaries several, numerous, or rarely 

 solitary, free from the calyx (which is often bracteolate, as if 

 double), but sometimes enclosed in its persistent tube, in fruit becom- 

 ing either follicles or achenia. Styles terminal or lateral. Herbs or 



