LAURACEA. 447 
bearing the scars of the perianth at its apex. There is moreover an 
indusium round the fruit formed by that of the female flower, which is 
accrescent and dilated, finally almost bladder like with anarrow opening 
above.’ The large seed contains a thick fleshy exalbuminous embryo 
with ruminated hemispherical cotyledons. Hernandia consists of trees 
from Asia, Oceania, and America, with alternate simple entire petiolate 
leaves often peltate. The flowers form terminal or axillary racemes 
of cymes, and are usually in threes surrounded by a common invo- 
lucre of four decussate bracts. The middle flower is usualiy female, 
and the two others male. Under the female flower is a proper in- 
volucel, forming a four-toothed cup; and this it is that later on forms 
the indusium of the fruit outside the floral receptacle. The genus 
contains six or seven distinct species.’ 
Of this order the ancients’ knew but one plant, Laurus nodilis.* 
All the species afterwards described were considered Laurels; this 
was the case with the Japan-Camphor, the Cinnamon, and the 
American species, such as the Benzoin and Sassafras. Linnaus 
knew twelve species, which he called Laurels, besides Cassytha. 
Apanson® placed the Laurels, under the name of Romdut, in the 
Family Garous (Thymelee), at the end of his Family of the Poppies 
(Fr., Pavots), after Berberis and Cassytha. A. L. pt Jussizru made 
the Laurels a distinct order,’ adding to the genus Laurus of Linnzus 
Ocotea and Aiouea, which AvBLEt had recently made known,’ and 
as genera afinia the nutmeg-plants (Myristica and Virola), with 
Hernandia of Puumier. He left among the genera incerte sedis* 
Ravensara (Agathophyllum), Cassytha, Lindera, and Tomex of Tuun- 
BERG? (Zetranthera), Gyrocarpus of Jacquin,” and Licaria of AUBLET.” 
1 Meissner makes this accessory envelope a 
formation of the base of the calyx :—“* Drupa 
ealycis tubo membranaceo vesicaformi apice 
truncato pervio inclusa.” But this part (which 
we consider as the receptacular sac) is closely 
applied to the fruit itself and becomes hard; 
while the vesicular pouch surrounding the whole 
fruit arises lower down on the floral pedicel 
itself, and has never, at any period, any adhesion 
to the fruit. 
2 Jacg., Amer., 245.—AUBL., Guian,, ii. 848, 
t. 329.—Bu., Biydr., 550. — Wient, Icon., 
t. 1855.— Sickm., Diss, Herb. Amboin., in 
Linei Amen, Acad, iv. 125.—GUILLEM., in 
Aan. Se. Nat., sér. 2, vii. 189,—Migq., Fl. Ind.- 
Bat., i, 887.—Tuw., Enum. Pl, Zeyl., 258.— 
Grisen., Pl. Wright., 188. — Brentu. & F. 
MUvELL., Fl. Austr., v. 313. 
3 Nrrs D’ESENBECK has given, in his Systema 
(679), the history of this order. 
4 See p. 440, note 4, 
5 Fam. des Pl., ii. 284, 433 (1763). 
6 Gen. (1789), 80, Ord. iv. 
7 Guian.,, i. 810; ii, 780 (1775). 
8 Op. cit., 429, 431, 439, 440. 
9 Fl. Jap. 190 (1784). 
10 Amer., 282 (1763). 
UL. guianensis AuBL., Guian., i, 318, t.-21. 
—Nuszs, Syst, 344, 658.—Muissn., Prodr., 
259, n. 16.—This tree, of which only the leaves 
