274 OBDER 28. AURANTIACE^E. 



1 G. Lasianthus L. Lvs. coriaceous, perennial, glabrous, shining on both sides, 

 lance-oblong ; peduncles half as long as the Ivs. ; sty. as long as the stamens. 

 Swamps near the coast, Va. to Fla. The Loblolly Bay is a large tree 50 to SOf in 

 height, with a rough bark when old, and light, coarse-grained, mahogany-colored 

 wood. Lvs. 3 to 4' long, 1 to 2' wide, acute at each end, fascicled at the ends of 

 the branches. Sep. very silky outside, small. Petals white, !' long, silky with- 

 out at base. May Aug. 



2 G. pubescens L'Her. Lvs. thin, serrate, deciduous, oblong-cuneiform, shinin'j 

 above, canescent beneath ; fls. on short peduncles ; sep. and pet. silky outside. A 

 tree 30 to 50f high in Ga. and Fla., or an ornamental shrub in cultivation at the; 

 North, admired for its large white flowers, with yellow stamens and rich fragrance. 



..Lvs. membranous, subsessile, with fine, sharp serratures. May Aug. (Frank- 

 liniana Americana Marsh.) 



ORDER XXVIII. AURANTIACE^E. ORANGES. 

 Trees or shrubs, glabrous, abounding in little transparent receptacles of volatile 

 oil, with Ivs. alternate, articulated with the petiole which is frequently winged. 

 J?s. regular, 3 5-merous, petals and stamens inserted on a hypogynous disk. 

 Stamens with flat filaments, distinct or cohering in one or several sets. Ova. com- 

 pounded of several united carpels. Sty. 1. Fr. a berry (orange) many-celled, 

 pulpy, covered with a thick rind. Sds. attached to the inner angle of each carpel. 

 Albumen, 0. Cotyledon thick. (Figs. 276, 



Genera 20, species 95, nearly all natives of tropical Asia, naturalized throughout all tropical 

 regions, and cultivated in all civilized countries for their beauty and fragrance, both of iluwcrs 

 and fruit. 



Properties. These fruits contain free citric and malic acid, and their pulp is grateful to the 

 taste. The rind contains an aromatic, volatile oil, which is tonic and stomachic. The rind of 

 the lime yields the oil of Bergamot, and the flower of the orange the oil of Neroli. 

 \ 



CITRUS, L. (Gr. Kirpiov, the citron ; the fruit of one of the species.) 

 Sepals and petals in 5s ; anthers 20, or some other and higher multiple 

 of 5, versatile, the connectile articulated to the filament ; filaments 

 dilated at base, polyadelphous; berry 9 18-cellcd. A noble genus 

 of trees and shrubs, all tropical, combining in its species beauty of form, 

 with shining, evergreen foliage, odoriferous fls., fragrant and delicious 

 fruit. The articulation of the petiole with the lamina is regarded by 

 some botanists as indicating a reduced compound leaf. 



1 C. Limonum L. LEMON TREE. Petioles somewhat winged; sta. 35; fr. 

 oblong-spheroid, with a thin rind and very acid pulp. A tree about 15f in hight, 

 which, when laden with its golden fruit suspended among its dark green leaves. 

 makes a most beautiful appearance. It is a native of tropical regions, and is 

 easily cultivated in the temperate climates if protected during winter, f 



2 C. Auraiitium L. SWEET ORANGE TREE. Petiole winged; leaf slightly 

 oblong, acute, crenulate ; sta. 20; fr. globous, with a thin rind and sweet pulp. 

 A middle-sized evergreen tree, with a greenish brown bark. When filled with 

 its large, round, golden fruit (sometimes to the number of 20,000, Lindley), it is 

 one of the most beautiful objects in nature. The cultivation of the orange in 

 Fla. and S. Ga. has been recently checked by severe frosts. It is easily raised in 

 the green house at the North, f "W. Indies. 



3 C. decumana L. SHADDOCK TREE. Petioles broadly winged; $tuse, 

 emarginate ; fr. very large, with a thick rind. A tree 15f in hight. Wings of 

 the petioles as broad as the leaves. Fr. grows to the diam. of 7 8', weighs 14 

 pounds, and is of a yellowish-green color. \ 



4 C. Limeta L. LIME TREE. Petioles not at all winged; If. ovate-orbicular, 

 serrate ; stam. 30 ; fr. globous, with a sweet pulp, and a protuberance at top. 

 This, like most other species, is native of Asia. Hight above 8f, with a crooked 

 trunk, diffuse branches with prickles. Berry 1-^' diam., of a greenish-yellow, 

 shining surface, f 



