OEDER XCVII. POLYGONACE^. OEDEE CIV. SAUEUEACEiE. 



123 



nypogynous, 1 — 20. Ovary free, 1-celled. Style 1. Stigma 1. 

 Fruit an aotenium. 



A small and/mostly tropical order. Several epecies of Mirabilis (Four- 

 d'clock^ Marvel ofFeru)^ are cultivated here. 



Order XCVII. — PolygonacesB. 



Herbs, or shrubs. Leaves alternate. Stipules ochreate, rarely 

 none. Flowers usually perfect. Sepals 4 — 6, more or less united 

 at base, often petaloid. Stamens definite, inserted on the base 

 of the sepals. Ovary free, 1-celled, 1-ovuled. Styles or stigmas 

 2 or 3. Acbenium usually triangular or oblong. 



An order widely distributed through the world, and containing some im- 

 portant plants. Buckwheat (Polygonum Fagopyrum), belongs here. The 

 Dorrel and Garden Rhubarb {Jilieum\ are distinguished by the acid juices of 

 their stallts and leaves. Some unknown Tartarian species yields the Khubarb 



Fig. 82. 



of the shops. The roots of the Tellow-Dock (Rumex), possess powerful anti- 

 seorbutio properties, and are a popular remedy for skin diseases. In J3g. 82, 

 Polygonum Persicaiia, with its peculiar sheatliing stipules (Oc/treoB), is repre- 

 sented. 



GKOUP III. 

 Order XOVIII. — Lauracea. 



Trees, or shrubs. Leaves alternate, usually punctate with 

 pellucid dots, destitute of stipules. Flowers perfect, or dioeei- 

 ously polygamous. Sepals 4-— 6, more or less united at base, im- 

 bricated in 2 series. Stamens definite, usually more numerous 

 than the sepals, inserted on their base. Anthers 2 — 4-celled, 

 opening by recurved valves from base to apex. Ovary, style and 

 stigma single. Fruit a berry or drupe, usually with a thickened 

 pedicel. Seed large, with a conspicuous embryo. 



An order consisting chiefly of tropical trees, distinguished by their stimu- 

 lant and aromatic properties, owing to the presence of a volatile oil. Cinnamon 

 Is obtained from the Cinnamomum Zeylanicum and the inferior Cassia bark, 

 which in this country and Europe is generally sold for Cinnamon, tcom the C. 

 aromaticum of China. Camphor is obtained from the different species of Cam- 

 phora, natives of China, Japan, and the Eastern Archipelago. The order is re- 

 presented at the North by Sassafras and Benzoin (Fever-bush). 



Order XOIX. — Thymeleaceae. 



Shrubs with a tough bark Leaves alternate, or opposite, 

 entire. Flowers perfect. Calyx petaloid, tubular, free from the 



ovary ; limb usually 4-cleft, the lobes imbricated in prefloration, 

 sometimes entirsm Stamens definite, usually twice as many as 

 the calyx-lobes, inserted in its throat. Ovary with 1 ovule. 

 Style 1. Stigma 1. Fruit drupaceous. 



An order distinguished as well by the acrid and even blistering properties of 

 the bark, as by its toughness. Dirca (Leatherwood), and Daphne (Mczereon), 

 are examples. 



Order C. — Eleagnaceae. 



Trees, or shrubs, usually covered by a kind of scurt Flowers 

 axillary, dioecious, rarely perfect. Calyx of the sterile flowers 

 4-parted. Stamens 3 — 8, sessile. Anthers 2-celled. Calyx of the 

 fertile flowers tubular, persistent, with an entire or 2 — 4-lobed 

 limb. Ovary simple, 1-celled, with a single stipitate ovule. 

 Fruit a crustaceous achenium, free from, but inclosed in, the 

 calyx, which becomes succulent and baccate. 



A very small order possessing no remarkable qualities. The Eleagnus 

 (Oleaster), cultivated for its silvery foliage, is an example. 



Order CI. — Santalaceae. 



Trees, shrubs, or herbs. Leaves alternate, entire. Flowers 

 small, perfect, rarely dioecious, polygamous. Calyx-tube adher- 

 ent to the ovary; limb 4 — 5-cleft. Stamens as many as the lobes 

 of the calyx, and inserted opposite them. Ovary 1-celled, with 

 1 — 4 ovules. Style 1. Fruit indehiscent, crowned with the per- 

 sistent calyx, often drupaceous. 



A small and father unimportant order, native chiefly of the warmer por- 

 tions of the world. An Indian species of Santala yields the fragrant Sandal- 

 wood. Comandra (Toad-^fiax)^ and Nyssa, the Gum-tree, are examples. 



Order CII. — Loranthacese. 



Shrubs, parasitic on trees. Stems diehotomously branching. 

 Leaves opposite, entire, coriaceous, of a dull green color. Flow- 

 ers small, often dioecious, rarely perfect and brilliant. Calyx- 

 tube adherent to the ovary of the perfect flower. Limb obsolete 

 or 3 — 5-cleft. Petals 3 — 8, cohering in a tube or distinct, some- 

 times none. Stamens as many as the petals, and inserted on 

 them when present, otherwise they are inserted on the base of 

 the sepals, 1 to each. Ovary 1-celled, 1-ovuled. Fruit a globu- 

 lar 1-seeded berry. 



A large parasitic order, represented in N. J. and the South by the Misseltoe 

 ( Viscum). 



Order CIII. — Ulmacese. 



Trees, or shrubs. Leaves alternate, simple, rough. Stipules 

 2 at the base of each leaf, deciduous. Flowers in loose axiJlary 

 clusters, rarely solitary, perfect or polygamous. Calyx free from 

 the ovary, campanulate, 4 — 5-cleft. Stamens as many as the 

 calyx-lobes, and opposite them ; or else more numerous. Ovary 

 1-celled, 1 — 2-ovuled. Styles or stigmas 2. Fruit 1-eelled, 1- 

 seeded, either a samara or berry-like drupe. 



A small order consisting chiefly of trees, useful merely as timber. Ulmus, 

 the Flm, one species of which, the well-known Slippery Elm, is an example. 



GEOUP IV. 

 Order CIV. — Saururaceee. 



Herbs, with the stems jointed at the nodes. Leaves alternate, 

 entire. Flowers perfect, in spikes or racemes, entirely destitute 

 of floral envelopes. Stamens definite, persistent, usually 6 — 8. 

 Anthers 2-celled. Ovary consisting of 3 — 5 partially united ear- 

 pels. Styles 3 — 5, distinct. Capsule or berry 3 — 5-celled, each 

 cell usually 1-seeded. 



Unimportant marsh plants, represented here by Saurorus (Zizard^a-tail). 



