THALAMIFLOR^E. 227 



is not utilized by us ; but it is stated that the Tibetans, after drinking 

 the infusion, mix the leaves with fat and then eat them. Assam tea is 

 the produce of a species, T. Assamica, a native of the country whence its 

 name is derived. Camellia Sasanqua is used with Olea fragram to give 

 flavour and perfume to Chinese tea ; C. oleifera affords excellent salad- 

 oil. JFrezia theoides is made into tea in Panama. The Marcgraavias 

 have diuretic properties. The Souari nuts of commerce are the separated 

 fruit-lobes of Caryocar butyrosum, so called on account of the oil in the 

 seeds. The timber of this tree is highly valued. Many of the plants 

 of this Order are in cultivation on account of their handsome flowers, 

 such as the Camellia, Gordonia y Stuartia, &c. 



CLUSIACE^E OR GUTTIFERJE. THE GAMBOGE ORDER. 

 Coh. Guttiferales, Senth. et Hook. 



Diagnosis. Trees or shrubs, occasionally parasitical, with resinous 

 juice ; opposite, coriaceous, exstipulate, entire leaves; flowers axillary or 

 terminal, perfect or diclinous by abortion ; sepals imbricated or in 2 or 

 more decussating pairs, usually persistent and petaloid ; petals hypogynous, 

 isomerous with the sepals, sometimes confounded with them ; stamens 

 hypogynous, numerous, distinct, or in several parcels, rarely definite, 

 filaments of various lengths ; anthers adnate, not beaked, sometimes 

 1-celled, opening by a pore or transverse slit ; disk fleshy, sometimes 

 5-]obed ; ovary superior, 1- or many-celled j stigmas sessile, peltate, or 

 radiate ; ovules solitary or few on axile placentas ; seeds frequently with 

 an aril, without perisperm. Embryo large; cotyledons minute, fused 

 together or indistinguishable. Illustrative Genera : Clusia, L. ; Garcinia, 

 L. ; Xanthochymus, Roxb. ; Camboyia, L. ; Calophyllum, L. 



Affinities, &c. This Order is related to the Hypericacese in many respects, 

 but may be distinguished by the tree-like habit, the leathery leaves with 

 articulated stalks, the tendency to a binary arrangement of the floral 

 envelopes, the seeds usually solitary in the cells of the ovary, &c. The 

 genera with 5-merous flowers, Arrudea, Moronobcea, &c., form a con- 

 necting link. The relationship to Ternstrcemiads has been alluded to 

 under that family. The Clusice are described as parasitical, overgrowing 

 other trees and killing them; perhaps, however, they are merely epiphytic, 

 like Fisus. 



Distribution. The genera are about twenty -five in number, comprising 

 some two hundred and fifty species, distributed throughout the tropics, 

 chiefly in South America, but some in Africa. 



Qualities and Uses. An acrid juice, forming a yellow gum-resin, with 

 purgative properties, is one of the most striking characteristics of this 

 Order. The various kinds of Gamboge are the most familiar examples of 

 this substance, and are derived from various species of Garcinia. Siarn 

 gamboge is yielded by Garcinia Morella, var. j3. pedicellata. Ceylon 

 gamboge is said to be derived from Garcinia Morella, the form with sessile 

 flowers ; the Pipe-gamboge of Siarn from G. pictoria ; Coorg gamboge is 



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