548 



BOTANY. 



Order Ternstroemiaceee. — Trees and shrubs with alternate (rarely 

 opposite) leaves, and mostly monoclinous axillary or racemed floners. 

 Species 260, mostly tropical. (Figs. -520 and 521-5.) 



Several ornamental species are indigenous to the Southern United 

 States — e.g., the Loblolly Bay (Gordonia Lasianthus, Fig 520), a tree 

 nine to fifteen metres (30 to 50 ft.) high ; 0. pubtsceus, the Mountain 

 Bay ; and two shrubby species of Stuartia. 



The most common exotic species cultivated for ornament is the 

 Camellia (Camellia Ja/pordea) a well-known hot-house shrub from 

 China and Japan. 



The Tea Tree {Camellia Chinends or Tliea Chinends) is an evergreen 



tree three to five metres high, and 



Fias. 



531-5.— Illustrations of Camel- 

 lia CUINENSIS. 



a, native, probably, of Southern 

 and Eastern Asia. It has been 

 cultivated for ages by the Chi- 

 nese, aud has lately been intro- 

 duced to a limited extent into 

 other countries. In preparing the 

 leaves they are carefully picked, 

 and then are subjected to alternate 

 drying, pressing, rolling and air- 

 ing until, the proper chemical 

 changes have taken place, and a 

 sufficient part of the water is 

 driven off. The different kinds 

 and qualities of tea depend upon 

 the rapidity of the process, and 

 also upon the age of the leaves 

 used, the more rapid process and 

 the younger leaves producing the 

 finer green teas, the slower pro- 

 cess and older leaves producing 

 the black teas. Somewhat appears 

 also to depend upon the variety of 

 the plant, there being, it is gene- 

 rally admitted, two varieties or 



races, viz., var. viridis and var. Buhea. 



Tea leaves after preparation contain the alkaloid Caffeine (Cs Hio 



Nj Oj + Hj O), which also occurs in roasted, coffee. 



Order GuttiferesB. — Trees and shrubs with yellowish or greenish 

 resinous juice, opposite leaves, and mostly diclinous flowers. Species 

 330, all tropical. 



Qfircinia Morella, a small tree of Siam, produces Gamboge, a valuable 

 color used in painting. Incisions are made into the bark, and the juice 

 which exudes is gathered and dried, constituting the crude Gamboge. 



The Mangogteen, ft frmt about as large fts an apple, and considered 



Fig. 525. 



Fig. 521.-Eipe fruit Magnified. 



Fig. 522.— Seed. Mngnifled. 



Fig. 623— Section of seed Magnified 



Fig. 524.— Embryo. Magnified. 

 ■ Fig. 525.— Half embrj-o, innei face. Mag- 

 nlfiea. 



