840 LXII. EMPETRE^. 



by tlie funicle dilated into a ciipule; albumen fleshy, copious. Embryo straight, 

 minute, at the top of the albumen, sub-cylindric or globular ; radicle near the hilum, 



superior. 



GENERA. 



Cassine. Ilex. Prinos. Byronia. Nemopanthes. . 



Ilicinets were for a long time placed in the family of Celastrinea, which approach them in their per- 

 sistent calyx, hypogyniam, isostemony, aestivation of their corolla, their many-celled ovary, anatropoua 

 ovule, sessile or suhsessile^ stigma, sometimes drupaceous fruit {Elceodendron), straight albuminous 

 embryo, woody stem, alternate leaves, and axillary small and greenish flowers ; but CelastrinecB differ in 

 the fleshy disk which lines the bottom of the calyx and often the base of the ovary, in the erect or as- 

 cending ovule, and finally in their corolla, which is clearly polypetalous. We shall indicate'the affinity 

 of IlicinecB with Ebenacece under that family. They have also a connection with Olacine<s, founded on the 

 hypogynous corolla, pendulous and anatropoua ovule, fleshy fruit, albuminous seed, and woody stem ; but 

 Olacinecs have an anisostemonous corolla with valvate aestivation, and their embryo is axile, and not apical.' 



Ilicine<B are rare in Europe ; they are more numerous in Asia, South and Central America, and at the 

 Cape of Good Hope. 



Ilicine(S contain a bitter principle, the ilicine of chemists, combined in various proportions with an 

 aromatic resin and a glutinous matter, to which some species of Holly owe medicinal properties. Ilicine 

 has Ijeen proposed as a substitute for quinine. An infusion of the leaves of Ilex vomitoria is diuretic 

 and diaphoretic; in large doses it produces vomiting, and is the usual, emetic of the savages of South 

 America. Ilex Paraguayensis yields mate, which takes the place of tea in South America. The bark of 

 Prinos verticillata is astringent, and is used in the United States as a tonic and antiseptic. Many kinds of 

 Holly are cultivated in Europe as ornamental plants (7. Dahomi, halearica, iimderensis, latifolia, &c.) ; 

 but the most interesting species is the common Holly {Ilex aquifoUum), which grows in the hilly forests 

 of western Europe, and the spiny and persistent leaves of which were formerly used as a febrifuge. 

 The berries are of a brilliant red, and with the shining green leaves greatly contribute to the beauty of 

 our winter bouquets. The bark yields bird-lime, used by birdcatchers, and formerly emploved topically 

 to reduce tumours. Holly-wood is close and hard, and much esteemed for cabinet-work. 



LXII. EMPETREyE, Nuttatl. 



Low heath-like dry erect or prostate much-brauched shrubs, branches cylin- 

 dric. Leaves alternate, sometimes sub-whorled, coriaceous, entire, exstipulate. 

 Flowbks small, regular, usually dioecious, rarely polygamous, sessile in the axils of 

 the upper leaves, solitary {Empetrum), or fevr together {Geratiola), rarely crowded at 

 the top of the branches (Gorema), naked, or furnished with scaly imbricate bracts. 

 Calyx 3-2-phyllous ; leaflets imbricate in sestivation, coriaceous or membranous, and 

 like the bracteoles. Petals hypogynous, shortly clawed, persistent, marcescent. 

 Stamens (rudimentary or in the ? ) inserted with the petals, equal and alternate 

 with them ; filaments filiform, free, persisting after the fall of the anthers ; anthers 

 extrorse, sub-globose, didymous or oblong, dehiscence longitudinal. Ovary (rudi- 

 mentary in the $ ) seated on a fleshy sub-globose disk, 2-3-6-9-celled, cells 1-ovuled ; 

 style short, angular, or obsolete ; stigma lobed, radiating, lobes truncate, laciniate or 



• Various OZflcincffi have isostemonous imbricate corollas the habit of .Z7ca:, and stamens cohering to the base 

 and apical embryos, notably Villaresia, which has further of the connate petals. Ed. 



