290 



BOTANY AND PHARMACOGNOSY. 



In addition to the fruit-ethers found in the common edible fruits 

 of this family and the volatile oil of rose, it should be mentioned 

 that oils containing salicylic acid are also present. A number of 

 species of Spiraea contain salicylic aldehyde and methyl salicylate. 

 Quillaja Saponaria is a large tree having a thick bark and 

 hard wood. The leaves are oval, coriaceous, slightly dentate and 

 evergreen (Fig. 149). The flowers are monoec'ous or dioecious, 

 white, apetalous, and axillary in groups of one to four. The ovary 



Fig. 149. Soap-bark tree {Quillaja Saponaria): A, flowering branch; B, one of the 

 hermaphrodite flowers; C, the latter in longitudinal section. — After Baillon. 



consists of 4 to 5 carpels and on ripening forms a star-like, spread- 

 ing group of follicles. The inner bark is the part used in medicine 



(P-541)- 



Hagcnia abyssinica is an ornamental tree with 7- to 13-foliate 

 leaves. The flowers are monoecious and occur in panicles; 

 the staminate being greenish-yellow and with 20 stamens ; and the 

 pistillate fragrant, bicarpellary. and with a reddish calyx (Fig. 

 150). The fruit is a nutlet. The pistillate flowers are official 

 under the name of Cusso (p. 556) . 



A^arious species of Prunus yield gums, as cherry, peach, 

 apricot, etc. Mucilage is found in the testa of certain seeds, as 



