146 DE CANDOLLE'S SYSTEM. 



ropsea. Manna exudes from the trunk of Ornus europsea 

 and others. The bark of the Olive is a powerful febrifuge. 

 Phyllireas are handsome evergreen shrubs. 



TYPICAL GENERA. Olea, Phyllirea, Syringa. 



104. Jasminacea. Shrubs. Leaves opposite or alternate, 

 mostly compound. Calyx divided or toothed, permanent. 

 Corolla regular, with from 5 to 8 divisions, imbricated and 

 twisted. Stamens 2. Ovary destitute of a disk, 2-celled ; 

 ovules erect ; stigma 2-lobed. Seeds with no albumen. 



USES. The flowers of most species are fragrant. The 

 leaves and bark are bitter, but of little moment. 



TYPICAL GENERA. Jasminum, Nyctanthes. 



105. Apocynacea. Trees or shrubs, usually milky. Leaves 

 opposite, quite entire, often having glands upon the petioles, 

 with no stipules. Calyx inferior, permanent. Corolla regu- 

 lar, 5-lobed, contorted. Stamens 5. Filaments distinct. 

 Pollen granular. Ovaries 2, or 1 which is 2-celled, poly- 

 spermous. Stigma 1. Seeds with fleshy albumen. 



USES. Often dangerous poisons, but in some cases simply 

 purgatives. The root of Nerium, the kernel of Tanghinia 

 venenata, the seeds of various kinds of Strychnos, called 

 Nux vomica, belong to the first class ; the leaves of Cerbera 

 Manghas, Allamanda cathartica, to the second. Vahea, 

 Urceola elastica, and others, abound in Caoutchouc. 



TYPICAL GENERA. Vinca, Echites, Nerium. 



106. Asclepiadacea. Shrubs or herbaceous plants, milky, 

 and often twining. Leaves entire, opposite, having cilise be- 

 tween their petioles. Calyx inferior, permanent. Corolla 5- 

 lobed, regular, imbricated, very seldom valvular. Stamens 5 ; 

 filaments connate ; anthers 2-celled ; pollen cohering in masses, 

 and sticking by 5 glands to as many processes of the stigma. 

 Ovaries 2. Styles 2. Stigma common to both styles, 5- 

 cornered. Follicles 2. Seeds comose ; albumen thin. 



USES. The roots of many are emetic, sudorific, acrid, and 

 purgative. Indian Sarsaparilla is the root of Hemidesmus 

 indicus. Asclepias tuberosa and Curassavica are employed 

 as cathartics in the United States and West Indies. The 

 leaves of Cynanchum Argel are used in Egypt to adulterate 

 Senna ; they are acrid. The extract of Calotropis gigantea, 



