LAUEACE^. 



567 



Laurese, true Laurels, trees with leaves. 2. Oassytheae, Dodder-laurels, 

 climbing parasitic plants without leaves. There are 56 known genera 

 and 470 species. Exam/pUs — Laurus, Oinnamomum, Persea, JSTectandra 

 Tetranthera, Cassytha. 



Fig. 804 Fig. 805. 



Fig. 803. 



The plants of this order are in general aromatic and fragrant. 

 Many of them jdeld volatile and fixed oils, others furnish camphor, 

 and others have bitter and tonic barks. Some supply useful timber. 

 Laurus nobilis is the Victor's-laurel, the leaves of which were used to 

 crown the conquerors in battle and in the Olympic games. It is 

 probably the mtS, Ezraoh, of the Bible. It is often called Sweet-bay, 

 and is quite distinct from the common Bay, or Cherry-laurel (Gerasus 

 Lauro-cerasus), both as regards structure and properties. It does not 

 yield any hydrocyanic acid. The leaves and fruit are used medicinally 

 as aromatic stimulants. The leaves contain a volatile oil, and the dark- 

 coloured fruit yields, by expression, an odoriferous concrete oil of a 



Pigs. 801-807. Organs of fructification of Cinnamomum zeylanicum (Laurus Cinnamomum), 

 to illustrate the natural order Lauracese. Fig. 801. Flower entire, with 6-divided peri- 

 anth. Fig. 802. Diagram of the flower, with six imbricate divisions of the perianth ; 

 stamens in two rows, the outer six introrse, the inner three extrorse ; glandular dislc, and 

 unilocular ovary. Fig. 803. The flower cut vertically, c, The perianth, e/. Fertile 

 outer stamens with valvular introrse dehiscence, es. Sterile inner stamens with glandular 

 bodies, o, Monothecal ovaiy with pendulous ovule, s, Style and obtuse stigma. Fig, 804. 

 Stamen separated. /, Filament with two glandular bodies, g g, at its base, a, Anther 

 with valves. Fig. 805. Anther viewed separately, showing its mode of dehiscence from 

 below upwards by four longitudinal valves. Fig. 806. Fruit, which is succulent and 

 partially enclosed in the persistent perianth. Fig. 807. The fruit deprived of the peri- 

 anth, and out vertically, p, Pericarp, t. Integument of the seed, e, Bmbiyo. 



