CALTCIFLOB^!. 283 



corolla, Ado.ra, referred to Caprifoils by Bentham and Hooker, is re- 

 markable for its stamens, which have a bipartite filament, each half bear- 

 ing a separate anther-lobe ; it also presents flowers with 4- and 5-merous 

 corollas in the same inflorescence. Gunnera, an aberrant form, included 

 under Halorageae by Bentham and Hooker, is in some cases dioecious, has 

 a dimerous perianth of two whorls or none at all, and 2 stamens, and a 

 1 -celled, 1-seeded ovary ; G. scabra is remarkable for its enormous leaves, 

 as much as 8 feet in diameter, on stalks like those of Rheum. Helwingia 

 is unisexual, and is made a type of a distinct Order by Decaisne and 

 others. Its flowers are collected on the midribs of the leaves or bracts, 

 from the adherence of the peduncle, somewhat as in Tilia. Seemann 

 includes in his proposed group of Hederaceae, on account of their valvate, 

 not imbricate, petals, Crithmum, Hortfieldia, some species of Hydrocotyle, 

 and some other plants usually placed in Umbelliferae. 



Distribution. A considerable Order, distributed throughout all climates 

 and in all parts of the world. 



Qualities and Uses. Aromatic and stimulant. The root of Panax 

 Ginseng is highly valued by the Chinese as a stimulant ; P. quinquefolium 

 is exported to 'China from the United States as American Ginseng. 

 Aralia nudieaulis (United States) is called Wild Sarsaparilla ; A. racemosa 

 yields an aromatic gum-resin. The astringent roots of Gunnera scabra 

 are used for tanning, and the fleshy leaf-stalks are eaten. The berries of 

 Ivy (Hedera Helix) are emetic and purgative. The wood of some of the 

 East-Indian species is resinous and aromatic. The substance called 

 Rice-paper, prepared by the Chinese, consists of thin slices of the pith of 

 Tetrapanax papyriferum. 



CORXACEyE (THE DOGWOOD ORDER) consists of shrubs 

 or trees (rarely herbaceous), almost always with opposite and 

 exstipulate simple leaves; flowers 4-5-merous, sometimes 

 diclinous ; the tube of the calyx adherent to the 1-2-celled 

 ovary, its limb minute ; the petals (valvate in the bud), with 

 as many stamens, inserted on the margin of an epigynous disk 

 in the perfect flowers ; style 1 ; a single anatropous ovule 

 suspended from the top of each cell ; the fruit drupaceous, 

 1-2-seeded (fig. 390) ; embryo nearly the length of the peri- 

 sperm, with large and foliaceous cotyledons. Illustrative Ripe fruit 

 Genera : Cornus, Tournef . ; Aucuba, Thunb. of Cornus. 



Affinities, &c. The chief distinctions from the Araliaceae lie in the in- 

 florescence, the tetramerous structure of the flower, the usually opposite 

 leaves, the 2-carpellary ovary, and the simple style ; from Umbelliferse 

 the first two characters divide them, together with the single style, and 

 in most cases the habit ; Caprifolia^esB are distinguishable by the sym- 

 petalous corolla. Haloragacese differ in habit and distinct styles, but are 

 connected with this group through Gunnera. 



Distribution. A small Order, the members of which are natives of the 

 temperate parts of America, Europe, and Asia. 



Qualities and Uses. The bark of various species of Comus is esteemed 

 as a tonic and febrifuge ; C. Jlorida &c. are used in North America in 



