572 THYMEL^ACE^ — AQ.UILAEIACEiE — CHAILLETIACEiE. 



and plano-convex cotyledons. 2. Hernandiese, with polygamous flowers, 

 and lobed and shrivelled cotyledons. Authors enumerate 40 genera, 

 including 300 species. Examples — Daphne (Thymelsea), Edgeworthia, 

 Passerina, Pimelea, Gnidia, Lagetta, Exocarpus, Hernandia, Inocarpus. 



The bark of many of the plants is acrid and irritant, the fruit is 

 often narcotic. The bark of the root, as well as that of the branches 

 of Daphne Mezenum, Mezereon, is used in decoction as a diaphoretic 

 in cutaneous and syphilitic affections. In large doses it acts as an 

 irritant poison, causing hypercatharsis ; and, when applied externally, 

 it acts as a vesicant. It contains a neutral crystalline principle 

 called Daphnein. The succulent fruit is also poisonous. The barks 

 oi Dapluie Ghiidium, D. alpina, D. Cneorum, D.pontica, and D. Laureola, 

 Spurge-laurel, have similar properties. The berries of Daphne Laureola 

 are poisonous to animals (except birds). The bark oi Dirca palustris, 

 North American Leather wood, is used for cordage ; its young twigs are 

 made into ropes and baskets. It abounds near San Francisco and in 

 the valley of the Mississippi. Its fruit is said to be narcotic. The 

 bark of many of the plants is made into ropes and paper (fig. 119, p. 

 67). The inner bark oi Lagetta lintearia (Daphne Lagetta), when cut into 

 thin pieces after maceration, assumes a beautiful net-like appearance, 

 whence it has received the name of Lace-bark. The bark, young 

 leaves, and seeds of Hernandia, are slightly purgative. The seeds of Ino- 

 carpus edulis have the taste of chestnuts, and are eaten when roasted. 



Order 149. — Aqtjilaeiace^, the Aquilaria Family. {Apet. 

 Periffyn.) Perianth coriaceous, imbricate or tubular, limb 4-5-lobed; 

 aestivation imbricate. Stamens usually 10 fertile, alternating with 10 

 sterile, in the form of petaloid scales, sometimes 8 or 5 ; filaments iu- 

 serted into the orifice of the perianth, often united ; anthers dithecal, 

 with longitudinal dehiscence. Ovary free, ovate, compressed, 2-ceIled ; 

 ovules 2, suspended, anatropal ; stigma usually sessile, large and 

 simple. Fruit a pyriform, sessile, or stipitate 2-valved capsule, or 

 drupaceous and indehiscent. Seeds 2, one on each placenta, pen- 

 dulous ; albumen ; cotyledons fleshy, hemispherical ; radicle straight, 

 superior. — Trees, with alternate or opposite, entire, stalked, and ex- 

 stipulate leaves. They are natives of the tropical regions of Asia. 

 They have no known medical properties. Aquilaria ovata and Agal- 

 lochum furnish a fragrant wood called Eagle-wood, or Aloes-wood. It 

 is probably the C^nti or niPriN, Ahalim or Ahiloth, the trees of Aloes 

 or Lign-Aloes, of the Bible, yielding an aromatic perfume. It has 

 been considered a cordial by some Asiatic nations, and has been pre- 

 scribed in Europe in gout and rheumatism. There are 7 genera 

 noticed, including 12 species. Examples — Aquilaria, Gyrinopsis. 



Order 150. — CHAiLLBTiACEiE, the Chailletia Family. (Apet. 

 Perigyn.) Perianth 5-parted, with an incurved valvate aestivation. 

 Stamens inserted into the base of the perianth, 5 inner fertile opposite 



