534 



BOTANY. 



Lydloma Sabicu, a large Cuban tree, yields a liard and very durable 

 timber, liiglily valued for ship-building and for other purposes. 



Many species of Acacia and Mimosa are in cultivation in gardens and 

 conservatories. 



Mimosa pudica, from South America, is interesting on account of its 

 extreme sensitiveness to a touch or jar. On this account it is commonly 

 knovfn as the Sensitive Plant. Its leaves expand in the light and con- 

 tract in darkness, and in the proper temperature close at once upon 



Fict. 488. 



Fig. 488.— Expanded componnd leaf of Mimosa pudim. 

 Fig 489.— Closed leaf of the eame. 



Fio. 489. 



being touched or jarred, opening again, liowever, in a few minutes 

 (Figs. 488-9). 



Order Connaracese. — Trees and shrubs of the tropics, one of which, 

 Connarus Lambertii of Guiana, furnishes the beautiful Zebra-wood. 



595.— Cohort XXVII. Sapindales. Shrubs and trees, 

 ■with usually compound leayes. Flowers often zygomorphic 

 and diclinous ; ovary superior ; seeds usually without endo- 

 sperm. 



Order Moringese. — Contains three Old World trees, of doubtful 

 affinity. 



Order Coriariese.— Shrubs of one jrenus and three to five species, 

 found in the Mediterranean region, the Himalayas, Japan, New Zea- 

 land, and South Amer ca. Their affinities are very obscure. 



Order Anacardiaceae. — Tlie Cashew Family. Trees and shrubs, 

 with gummy or milky-resinous juice, often poisonous ; fruit usually a 

 drupe. Sppcies about 450, chiefly found in the tropics. The common 



