LAUEACEiE — MYEISTIOACE^. 569 



existence of an alkaloid called Bebeerine (Bibirine.) Dr. Douglas 

 Maolagan obtained it pure, and found along with it another alkaloid 

 called Nectandrine. Sulphate of Bebeerine is used as an antiperiodic. 

 The cotyledons of the seed contain much starch, and are used for food. 

 The cotyledons of N. Puchury are imported from Brazil under the name 

 of Puchurim beans or Sassafras nuts. Persea gratissima {Laurus Persea) 

 yields a pear-shaped succulent fruit called Avocado or Alligator-pear, 

 or Subaltern's-butter. It contains a fixed oU. The clove nutmegs 

 of Madagascar are produced by Agathophyllum aromaticum, and Bra- 

 zilian nutmegs are the produce of Cryptocarya moschata. Benzoin 

 odorifemm is the Spice-wood or Fever-bush of North America. The 

 inner bark of Oreodaphne opifera yields a large quantity of volatile oil. 



Order lii.^MYRiSTiCACEiE, the Nutmeg Family. (Apet. Diclin.) 

 Flowers unisexual. Perianth trifld, rarely quadrifid, in the female 

 deciduous; aestivation valvate. Stamens 3-12; filaments combined 

 into a cylinder; anthers united or distinct, dithecal, extrorse, 

 dehiscing longitudinally. Ovary free, composed of one or more car- 

 pels, unilocular; ovule solitary, erect, anatropal; style very short; 

 stigma somewhat lobed. Fruit succulent, 1-celled, 2-valved. Seed 

 solitary, usually covered by a laciniated arillus ; embryo smaU, ortho- 

 tropal, at the base of ruminate albumen ; cotyledons foliaceous ; 

 radicle inferior. — Trees with alternate, exstipulate, entire, not dotted 

 leaves. Natives of the tropical regions of Asia and America. There are 

 5 known genera and between 30 and 40 species. Example — Myristica. 



Acridity and aromatic fragrance are the properties of the order. 

 The most important plant is Myristica officinalis {M. moschata, fragrans, 

 or aromatica), a tree attaining a height of 30 feet (50-60 feet in the 

 Banda Islands), found in the Moluccas, and cultivated in many tropical 

 countries. The fruit is drupaceous, and opens by two valves when 

 ripe, displaying the beautiful reticulated scarlet arillus which , consti- 

 tutes mace. Within this is a thin, hard, dark-brown, glossy shell, 

 covering the kernel, which is the nutmeg of the shops. The tree 

 begins to bear when 8 years old, and is in its prime at 25 years, 

 and continues to bear fruit until 60 or even 80 years old. A good 

 tree will yield annually 2000 fruits. In 1871 the produce of the 

 Banda Islands amounted to 1,080,933 lbs. By expression nutmegs 

 yield a concrete oil called Adeps Jtfyristicce, or sometimes erroneously 

 oil of mace. A volatile oil is also procured by distillation. Mace is 

 an arillode or additional covering of the seed commencing at the exos- 

 tome (p. 328). It has a fine crimson hue, and yields a fatty matter 

 and volatile oil, resembling those of the nutmeg. A variety produces 

 ivory-coloured mace. Nutmeg and mace are used medicinally as 

 aromatic stimulants and condiments. In large doses they have a 

 narcotic efi'ect. The fleshy part of the fruit is used as a preserve. 

 The kernels of Myristica tomentosa are also used as aromatics, under 



