DAPHNALBS. 



491 



Fia. 392. 



Fia. 393. 



Bcehmeria nivea. tlje China Grass or lianiie, a perenuial herbaceous 

 plant, may fairly rival Flax in the fine and durable fibres it produces. 

 It has been introduced into the Southern United States and California. 

 There is still some difficulty in separating the fibres from the woody 

 portions of the plant, and this has prevented its more extensive use. 



The Stinging Nettles include ten geieia, of which the most impor- 

 tant are Urtiea, which includes our common species, and Laportea, 

 represented by our Wood Nettle ; to the latter belongs the Tree Nettle 

 L. gigas, of Australia, which reaches a height of Irom fifteen to forty 

 metres (50 to 130 ft.), and whose sting is so severe as to produce dau- 



(jerous results. 



Figs. 392-7. — Illustratioss of Uiitica urens. 



577. — Cohort 

 IX. Baphuales. 



Mostly shrubs or 

 trees, with moiio- 

 clinous flowers ; 

 ovary sui^erior, 

 one-celled, with a 

 single seed con- 

 taining no endo- 

 sperm. 



Order Protea- 

 cese. — A family of 

 about 1000 species, 

 confined almost en- 

 tirely to the South- 

 ern Hemisphere, and 

 occurring in greatest 

 abundance in A us- 

 tralia and Soutli 

 Africa. Many spe- 

 cies, especially of the 

 genus Banksia, are cultivated in conservatories. A few furn sh valua- 

 ble timber. 



Grevillea robusta, the Silk Oak of Australia, attains a height oi 

 twenty-four to thirty metres (80 to 100 ft.), with a diamett-r of two 

 metres or more, and supplies valuable timber. 



Knightia excelsa is a valuable New Zt aland timber tree tliirty metres 

 (100 ft.) or more in height. 



Leueadendron argenteum, the Silver Tree of the Cape of Good Hope, 

 has silvery lanceolate leaves ; its wood is much used for fuel. 



Protea grandiflora, the " Wagen-boom " of the same region, is used 

 by wheelwrights in the manufacture of wagon wheels. 



Order Elseagnacess. — A small order, of sixteen species, of trees or 



^^^J^ N^^rf^ 



Fio. 394. Fig. 395 Fig, 396. Fig. 397. 



FiK 89S.— Male flower. Mognifled 

 FiK- 393.-Diagram of male flower. 

 FiR. 394. -Female flower. MagnlHed. 

 Fig. S95.— Diagram of female flowej-. 

 Fig .S9B.— Seed. MagiiiBed, 

 Fig- 397.— Section of seed. Magnifl d. 



