252 



MANUAL OF BOTANY 



Distribution and Numbers. — Natives of the temperate parts 

 of the northern hemisphere in Europe and Asia. Illustrative 

 Genera : — Cannabis, Toum. ; Humulus, Linn. These are the 

 only genera, and each contains but one species. 



Properties and Uses. — The plants of this order yield valuable 

 fibres and possess narcotic, stomachic, and tonic properties. 



Order 35. Aetouaepaok^, the Bread-fruit Order.— Cha- 

 racter. — Trees or shrubs with a milky juice. Leaves alternate, 

 simple, with large convolute stipules. Flowers unisexual, in 

 dense heads on a fleshy receptacle. Male flowers achlamy- 

 deuus, or with a 2— 4-lobed or 2 — 4-sepaled calyx. Stamens 



opposite the lobes of the calyx 

 Fig. 1010. or to the sepals ; anthers 



erect. Female flowers ar- 

 ranged on a fleshy receptacle 

 of varying form. Calyx in- 

 ferior, tubular, 2 — 4-cleft or 

 entire. Ovary superior, 1- 

 ceUed. Frudt commonly a, 

 sorosis. Seed erect or pen- 

 dulous, with little or no albu- 

 men ; embryo straight, with 

 a superior radicle. 



Distribution and Num- 

 bers. — Exclusively tropical 

 plants. Illustrative Genera : 

 Antiaris, Leschen. ; Artocar- 

 pus, Linn. There are about 

 60 species. 

 " Properties and Uses. — 

 The milky juice of several 

 species yields india-rubber. 

 This juice is in certain oases poisonous, while in others it forms 

 a nutritious beverage. A few yield valuable timber. The fruits 

 of s*me are edible, and the seeds generally of plants of this order 

 are wholesome. 



Order 36. UlmacejE, the Elm Order.— Character.— T^-ees 

 or shrubs with a watery juice. Leaves alternate,, simple, 

 scabrous, with deciduous stipules. Flowers hermaphrodite or 

 unisexual, in loose clusters. Calyx inferior, membranous, im- 

 bricate. Stamens perigynous, definite ; anthers erect. Ovary 

 superior, 1 — 2-celIed ; styles or stigmas 2. Fruit indehiscent, 

 samaroid or drupaceous, 1— 2-celled. Seeds solitary, pendulous. 



Fig. 1010. Branch of the Bread-fruit tree 

 (Arlocarpus incisa). a, c. Heads of 

 female or pistillate flowers, b. Head 

 of staminate or male flowers. 



