TAMARISK TRIBE 



99 



Natural Order XXIX 



TAMARICACEiE.— The Tamarisk Tribe 



Calyx 4-5 parted, overlapping when in bud, remaining after the 

 petals have withered ; petals 4-5, from the base of the calyx ; 

 stamens equal in number to the petals or twice as many, distmct, 

 or united by their filaments ; ovary not combined with the calyx ; 

 styles 3 ; capsule 3-valved, i-celled, containing many seeds, which 

 are tufted with down at the extremity. Mostly shrubs with rod- 

 like branches, and minute leaves which resemble scales. They 

 are, with the exception of one Mexican genus, confined to the 

 eastern half of the northern hemisphere, and are most numerous 

 on the shores of the Mediterranean ; but though preferring the 

 seaside, they are not infrequently found on the banks of rivers, 

 and occur in the desert, especially where the soil is impregnated 

 with salt, as in the neighbourhood of Mount Sinai, where a species 

 of Tamarisk, very like the common one, produces a sugary substance 

 called by the Arabs Manna. The bark is: astringent, and several 

 species are remarkable for the large quantity of 

 sulphate of soda contained in their ashes, and / 



for the galls which they bear on their branches. /, 



These are highly astringent, and are used both 

 in medicine and dyeing. 



I. Tamarix (Tamarisk). — Calyx 5-parted ; 

 petals 5 ; stamens 5 or 10 ; stomas feathery. 

 (Named from the Tamaris, a river in Spain, 

 now called the Tambra, where the Tamarisk 

 abounds.) 



I. Tamarix [Tamarisk] 



T. T. Gallica (Common Tamarisk). — A hand- 

 some shrub or small tree, with long flexible 

 branches and minute scale-like leaves, which are 

 closely pressed to the twigs, and give the tfee a 

 light, feathery appearance. The flowers, which 

 are rose-coloured, grow in spiked panicles. The 

 plant is not a native, but has been largely 

 planted on the south coast, where it appears to 

 be well established. — Fl. July. Shrub. 



Tam.^rix Gallica 

 (Common Tamarislt) 



