244 MANUAL OF BOTANY 



sterile ; filaments distinct, the inner ones commonly with glands 

 at their base ; anthers adnate, 2— 4-celled, I, I, dehiscing by 

 recurved valves, v. Ovary superior, l-celled, with 1 or 2 sus- 

 pended ovules. . Fruit baccate or drupaceous. Seeds exalbu- 

 minous ; embryo with large cotyledons, and a superior radicle. 



Distribution and Numbers. — They are chieily natives of 

 tropical regions, but a few occur in North America, and one 

 (Laurus nobilis) in Europe. Illustrative Oenera : — Cinnamo- 

 muni, Burm. ; Neotandra, Bottb. ; Laurus, Tourn. There are 

 above 450 species. 



Properties a/nd Uses. — The plantg of this order are almost 

 universally characterised by the possession of aromatic pro- 

 perties, which are due to the presence of volatile oils ; many of 

 them are therefore employed as aromatic 

 Fio. 1003. stimulants. Others are narcotic ; some have 



sudorific properties ; and several are tonic, 

 stomachic, febrifugal, or astringent. A few 

 have edible fruits, and many yield valuable 

 timber. 



Order 21. Pboteace^, the Protea Order 

 — Character. — Shrubs or small trees. 

 Leaves hard, dry, opposite or alternate, exsti' 

 pulate. Flowers usually hermaphrodite 

 Calyx inferior, 4-partite or of 4 sepals ; cesti- 

 vation valvate. Stamens perigynous, equal in 

 '^I'eottaf of tie'fl'ow! number to the partitions of the calyx and 

 er of a species of opposite to them ; anthers bursting' longi- 

 Daphne. tudinaUy. Ovary simple, superior, 1-ceUed, 



with 1 or more ovules, ascending or sus- 

 pended. Fruit dehiscent or indehiscent. Seeds exalbuminous ; 

 embryo straight, radicle generally inferior. 



Distribution and Numbers. — Natives chieily of Australia and 

 the Cape of Good Hope. Illustrative Oenera : — Protea, Linn. ; 

 Banksia, Linn. fil. There are more than 600 species. 



Properties and Uses. — They are chiefly remarkable for the 

 beauty or singularity of their flowers and their evergreen foliage. 

 Biit , the fruits and seeds of some species are eaten ; and the 

 w6od is largely employed at the Cape and in Australia for burn- 

 ing, and occasionally for other purposes ; thus, that of Protea 

 grandiflora is used at the Cape of Good Hope for wagon- 

 wheels, hence the plant is named Wagenboom. The seeds of 

 Macadamia ternifaUa, a native of Queensland, are edible. 



Order 22. Thymelace^, the Mezereon Order. — C h a r a c t e r. 



