Ddph7ieJ\ 



LXXIII. THYMELACE^. 



371 



more than one leaf, often naked. Radical leaves numerous, all reni- 

 form, with a more or less evident obtuse sinus at the apex, on long 

 foot-stalks, having membranaceous stipules at their base. Racemes and 

 peduncles branched, with minute, ovate, membranous bracteas at the 

 base of each ramification. Pedicels thickened upwards. Flowers 

 erect, small. Stam, 6, shorter than the petals. Achene with a re- 

 markably broad winged border, tipped with the styles situated in 

 rather a deep notch, and having at the base the sepals, none of which 

 are enlarged as in Rumex, The leaves yield a most agreeably acid 

 flavour, much resembling that of Wood- Sorrel (^Oxalis Acetosella), 



Okd. LXXIII. THYMELACE^ Juss. 



I 



Perianth free, tubular, often coloured, 4 — 5-cleft. Stamens 

 inserted upon the tube, definite, when equalling in number the 

 segments of the perianth opposite to them. Anthers 2-celled 

 opening longitudinally. Ovary 1, free, 1 -celled, with one pen- 

 dulous ovule* Style 1, and stigma 1, undivided. Fruit an 

 achene^ hei^ry^ or drupe. Seed 1, pendulous. Albumen none, or 

 thin and fleshy. Radicle superior. — Shrubby, without stipules. 

 —An Order, remarkable for the tenacious character of the 

 inner bark, which is frequently made into paper, especially in 

 India. Lace-bark is the same substance of Lagetta lintearia^ 

 and is composed of layers of beautifully reticulated fibres. The 

 bark of all is caustic, acting upon the skin as a vesicatory, and 

 causing excessive pain if chewed. 



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1. Daphne Linn, Mezereon and Spurge-Laurel. 



Perianth single, often coloured, 4-fid. Stam. 8. Fruit a 

 herry. — Named in allusion to the Nymph Daphne^ who was 

 changed into a Laurel^ some of the plants of this genus having 

 the habit of Laurels. 



1. D. *Mezereum L. (common M,) ; flowers subternate lateral 

 sessile appearing before the deciduous lanceolate leaves, tube of 

 the perianth hairy. J5. S. t. 138L 



Rare, in woods in England. Hampshire (perhaps truly wild) 

 Sussex, Suffolk, Staffordshire, Worcestershire, Berkshire, and Ox- 

 fordshire, P^ • 2 — 4, — The well-known Mezereon of our gardens, 

 where its early blossoms and delightful fragrance attract general 

 favour. It forms a bushy shrub, bearing numerous purple flowers 

 ^vhlch appear before the leaves, and red berries nestled among the 

 foliage. Flowers sometimes white. 



2. D. Laureola L. {common SJ) ; racemes axillary of about 

 5 glabrous drooping bracteated flowers, leaves lanceolate 

 attenuate at the base glabrous evergreen. E. B. t. 1.19. 



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