FAMILIES OF FLOWERING PLANTS 111 
both hemispheres, but particularly abundant in southern Asia. They 
are lofty trees having alternate simple leaves and small monoecious or 
dioecious flowers destitute of corollas; the stamens are from 3 to 12, 
the ovary with one to several carpels. The fruit is succulent, enclosing 
a single nut-like seed, closely invested with a membrane known tech- 
nically as an aril. This false membrane, when drted and ground, con- 
stitutes the spice called mace. It is of a bright red color when fresh, 
but later turns dark brown. The nutmeg is also sun-dried before 
being packed for shipment, and the outer shell is usually removed. 
Commercial nutmegs are yielded by several species of Myristica, but 
the best, known as the Penang nutmeg, is the fruit of MW. fragrans. 
(See Fig. 93.) 
Family Gomortegaceae. Gomor- 
tega Family. This group resembles 
the Lactoridaceae in being monotypic, 
consisting of a single genus and spe- 
cies, Gomortega nitida, a Chilean ever- 
green shrub. 
Family Monimiaceae. Monimia 
Family. Contains about 23 genera and 
150 species, natives of South America 
and Australasia. They are trees or 
shrubs with opposite leaves and mo- 
noecious flowers. The divisions of the 
perianth are all similar, and are borne 
in several rows; stamens indefinite; car- 
pels several, becoming achenes in fruit, 
énclosed within the persistent perianth. 
The herbage, as well as the bark, is 
fragrant and aromatic, indicating a re- 
lationship to the succeeding family; the 
plants possess little economic value, Fig. 95. 4 
except that the fruits of a few species eee _ 
are edible. 
Family Lauraceae. Laurel Family. The highly aromatic trees 
and shrubs of this important group, are distributed in about 40 genera 
and over 900 species, common in tropical, but rather scarce in temper- 
ate regions. They have simple, usually alternate leaves, and small per- 
fect, monoecious or dioecious clustered flowers. The corolla is want- 
ing; the calyx is 4-6 parted, bearing the stamens inserted in groups of 
three; ovary 1-celled, becoming in fruit a 1-seeded berry or drupe. 
One of the earliest shrubs to indicate the approach of spring in the 
eastern States is the spice-bush (Benzoin Benzoin); its tiny honey-yellow 
The bloodroot (Sanguinaria 
