MAGNOLIA. 



71 



species of act.iea. From the apparent similarity of the plants to cimicif uga, 

 they might safely he administered in like manner. 



Medical I'l'dijcrtics and U>>es. — As already remarked, tlie chemical con- 

 stituents of act;ea are supposed to be similar to those of cimicifuga, and 

 therefore tlie former miglit Ije substituted for the latter in case of necessity, 

 though such ne(!essity is scarcely to be supposed. As d(nnestic remedies 

 both species have been employed, though rarely. Li scieutitio medicine 

 they have seldom been mentioned. 



MACNOLIACE^. 



Character of the Order. — Trees or shrubs with alternate, coriaceous leaves, 

 and convolute stipules which cover the buds and are deciduous. Sepals 

 usually ;} to (!, deciduous ; petals 8 or more, imbricated ; stamens numerous, 

 distinct ; anthers adnate ; carpels 1-eelled, nimierous, on an elevated re- 

 ceptacle, in fruit forming a sort of fleshy or dry cone. 



The order comprises about a dozen geiiera and more than seventy 

 species, very few of which, however, are indigenous to North America. 

 The liowers of many species are fragi'ant and ornnmental. As a whole the 

 mugnoliaceie are characterized by aromatic tonic properties. 



MAGNOLIA. 



Character of the (lenvs. — Sepals 3 ; petals C) to 12. Stamens numerous, 

 imbricated, with short filaments, and 

 long anthers, the latter opening inward. 

 Pistils numerous, crowded upon the 

 elongated torus, cohering, and in fruit 

 forming a fleshy and somewhat woody 

 conical mass. Carpels dehiscent upon 

 the back, 1- or 2-seeded, the seeds at 

 maturity being suspended from the open 

 capsules by an extensile thread of sj iral 

 vessels. Trees or shrubs. Leaves al- 

 ternate, or clustered at the sunuuit of 

 the branches. Flowers large, solitar)', 

 terminal. Stipules large, adnate to the 

 ])etioi ', decidiious. 



Mr^nolia glauca Linnr. — Small 

 or Laurel ^[agnolia. 



Ik'scriptio)}. — Calyc : sepals 3, mem- 

 I'ranaceous, spatulate, concave, resem- 

 l)ling petals but much h-ss delicate. Co- 

 rolla : petals 9 to 12, ovate, narrowed at 

 the base, concave, erect, arranged in circles of three. Seeds obovate, scarlet. 



A shrub 5 to 20 feet high, with divaricating branches and smooth, gray- 



Fio. 100.- Mnunolln glniioa. 



