CC. CASUARINE^J. 683 



2-4 sterile scales, 1 -celled; stigmas 2, lateral, filiform, sessile; ovule solitary, ortho- 

 tropous, basal, sessile. DRUPE covered either with long fleshy papilla, succulent, 

 edible (M.sapida), or with superficial wax-secreting odorous glands ; endocarp bony. 

 SEED erect ; testa thin, membranous. EMBRYO exalbuminous, antitropous ; cotyledons 

 fleshy, plano-convex ; radicle cylindric, superior. 



PRINCIPAL GENERA. 

 Myrica. Coinptonia. 



Myricece approach Juglandece in diclinism, inflorescence, the 1-celled and 1-ovuled ovary, the erect 

 orthotropous ovule, drupaceous fruit, exalbuminous seed, woody stem, and alternate aromatic leaves. 

 They are distinguished by their achlainydeous flowers, free ovary, waxy fruit, habit, and simple coria- 

 ceous 1-nerved leaves sprinkled with resinous glands. They have also some affinity with Casuarineee 

 (which see) and Setulaceat, from which they are distinguished by their 1-celled ovary and erect ortho- 

 tropous ovule, and by their properties. Mr. Chapman has joined to Myricece the genus Leitneria, which 

 differs in its campylotropous ovule. 



Myriceee belong to both worlds, but are nowhere abundant [excepting that some species are emi- 

 nently social]. They chiefly inhabit North America, South Africa, and the mountains of Asia and Java, 

 M. Faya is found in the Azores and Canaries. M. Gale inhabits boggy places in the north-west of 

 Europe [covering vast tracts]. 



The bark of several Myricece contains benzole acid and tannin, united with a resinous substance, 

 which gives it astringent tonic properties ; such is Cornptonia aspleniifolia, a decoction of which is used 

 in North America for obstinate diarrhoea. From the fruits of M. Gale is obtained a volatile oil, of a faint 

 scent, which is almost tasteless at first, but becomes acrid in the mouth. Those of M. sapida, of Nepal 

 [and China], contain an acid sugary and very agreeable taste, due to clavate fleshy hairs which are loaded 

 with a red j uice. The wax of M. cerifera was long used extensively in America for lighting ; its root 

 is an emetic and violent purgative. The leaves of M. Gale were formerly praised as antipsoric. 



CC. CASUARINE^E, Mirbel 



FLOWERS diclinous, achlamydeous, the $ with 2-4 bracteoles, monandrous; the $ with 

 2-4 scarious bracteoles. OVARY 1-celled-, STYLES 2; OVULES 2, semi-anatropous. FRUIT 

 a samara. SEED exalbuminous. RADICLE superior. STEM woody, branches jointed, 

 leafless. 



SHRUBS or very much branched TREES, with the habit of Ephedra or Equisetum ; 

 branches whorled, jointed, knotty, striate or furrowed. LEAVES replaced by striate 

 many-toothed sheaths surrounding the nodes of the branches. FLOWERS monoecious 

 or dioecious, $ in spikes, $ in capitula : FLOWERS $ seated within the last sheaths of 

 the branches, each with 4 bracteoles, 2 lateral and 2 antero-posterior, all connate into 

 a deciduous cap which is detached by the elongation of the stamen. STAMEN solitary, 

 central ; filament at first short, thick at the base, lengthening while flowering ; anther 

 incumbent ; cells sub-opposite, separated at the top and bottom, dehiscence longitu- 

 dinal. FLOWERS 9 capitate at the tips of the branches, each sessile in the axil of a 

 persistent bract, furnished with 2 boat-shaped bracteoles, at first open, then closing 

 on the young fruit, and re-opening when ripe. PERIANTH 0. OVARY compressed- 

 lenticular, 1-celled ; style terminal, very short ; stigmas 2, elongate-filiform ; ovules 



