412 



LXXXVIL BALSAMIFLILE. 



Liquidambar. 



Transverse section of 



J catkin. 



Liquidambar. 



Vertical section of a portion of 

 Y catkin (mag.). 



Liquidambar. 



Stigmas and abortive 



anthers (mag.). 



Liquidambar. 



Vertical section of 



ovary (mag.). 



FLOWERS monoecious, in catkins or capitula. PERIANTH single or 0. STAMENS 

 numerous. ? FLOWERS with a single accrescent perianth. OVARIES connate, 2- celled; 

 STYLES 2 ; OVULES numerous, sub-anatropous. FRUIT compound, of several 2-valved 

 capsules. SEEDS (fertile), elliptic, peltate, albuminous. EMBRYO axile; radicle 

 superior. STEM woody. LEAVES alternate. STIPULES caducous. JUICE resinous. 



TREES with alternate branches, balsamic juices exudipg from their bark. 

 LEAVES alternate, petioled, entire or lobed, with glandular teeth, edges of the lobes 

 folded inwards before expansion ; stipules fugacious ; floral buds terminal, scaly, 

 preceding the leaves. FLOWERS monoecious, in catkins or unisexual capitula ; bracts 

 4, caducous. $ FLOWERS achlamydeous, composed of stamens agglomerated between 

 the bracts of the capitula. Anthers pyramidal-linear, 4-angular, with 2 opposite 

 cells ; filaments short orO. ? FLOWERS : CALYX infundibuliforin, entire or glandular- 

 lobed. PETALS 0. STAMENS sterile, often 4-9, inserted around the top of the calyx. 

 OVARY semi-inferior, with 2 antero-posterior cells, many-ovuled ; styles 2, linear, 

 pointed, recurved, papillose on their inner face ; ovules sub-anatropous, inserted in 2 

 rows at the inner angle of each cell. CAPSULES connate by their edges, septicidal 

 above the middle. SEEDS few, or solitary by arrest, the arrested ones numerous, 

 deformed ; the fertile sub-peltate, elliptic, membranous, or shortly winged towards the 

 top ; albumen thin. EMBRYO axile ; cotyledons flat ; radicle short, superior. 



ONLY GENUS. 

 * Liquidambar. 



Balsamiflua; are connected with Plataneee (see this family) and Hamamelidece, to which they are 

 joined by Bentham ; they differ iu their inflorescence and aggregate fruit. Liquidumbar also ap- 

 proaches Salteinea>, and especially the Poplars, in inflorescence, diclinous achlamydeous and polyandrous 

 flowers, many-ovuled ovary, capsular fruit, woody stem, and stipulate leaves ; but Salicinece are dioecious, 

 the ovary is one-celled, with parietal placentation, the ovules anatropous, and the funicle hairy. But 

 four species are at present known of Liquidambar: L. Altingia, a gigantic tree, forms vast forests in Java, 

 Asia, New Guinea, &c., under the names of Rosa-maUos, liassa-mala, &c. L. orientals, a small tree 

 resembling a Maple, inhabits the isle of Cyprus and Asia Minor. L. macrophylla and styraciflua grow 

 in North America [another is Chinese]. L. styraci/lua yields [the North American] Liquidambar 

 Balsam, obtained by incisions in the trunk. This balsam contains a tolerable quantity of benzoic acid ; 

 it is of the consistence of a thick oil or of soft pitch. Liquid styrax, a sweet balsam, much used by the 

 Orientals as a perfume, and entering into the composition of several medicaments, is the produce of 

 L. Altingia and perhaps also L, orientate. [The bark of all is a hot, bitter stomachic.] 



