CLXXXVI. MTEISTICE^. 649 



to Sosacees, through Cah/cantheee, notwithstanding the alternate leaves, stipules, and absence of albumen. 

 In most RosacecB the leaves are simple, as in Monimiacecs ; their inflorescence, the numerical type of the 

 floral envelopes, and perigynous stamens are the same. With regard to the pistil, the carpels of Hoseee 

 and PomaeecB are included in a receptacular cupule, like those of Citrosma, Monimia, and Atherosperma ; 

 those of Oeum and Spiraa are seated on a convex receptacle, as in Mollinedia and Hedycarya, and the same 

 relation exists between Sanguisorbece and Boldoa with regard to the fewness and position of the carpels. 

 Besides this, the dry or fleshy fruit and the usually solitary pendulous or erect ovule, strengthen this rela- 

 tionship, which, according to Tulasne, is much closer than that which exists between Monimiacets and 

 Laurineee and Urticece. He recognizes in Lmirinece no structural likeness except in their anthers. As to the 

 relations with UrtieecB established by Jussieu principally on the genera Ficus and Dorstenia, he rejects it, on 

 account of the great development of the stipules in the latter, the absence of aroma, the small number of 

 stamens, the form of the perianth, the orthotropous or campylotropous ovule, and the constantly superior 

 radicle. Endlicher was the first who sagaciously compared Mollinedia with the free-carpelled Anonaceie. 



Finally, Hooker fll. and Thomson place Monimiacea in the neighbourhood of Myristieece and of the 

 second tribe of Magnoliacea (^Illicium); this affinity, founded on the aromatic properties, pellucid-punctate 

 leaves, diclinism, number of stamens, solitary anatropous ovule, albuminous seed, divaricate cotyledons, 

 &c., appears to us the most natural. 



Most Monimiaceee live in south tropical, and several in south temperate latitudes. Citrosma and 

 Mollinedia are purely tropical American. Laurelia inhabits Chili and New Zealand. Boldoa, a monotypic 

 genus, belongs to Chili. Hedycarya and Atherosperma are dispersed over East Australia, Tasmania, and 

 New Zealand. Amhora and Monimia grow in Madagascar, Comoro and the Mascarene Islands. Kibara 

 is a native of tropical Asia. DorypJiora is confined to East Australia. 



MonimiacecB possess a tonic and stimulating volatile oil in all their parts. The leaves of Boldoa are 

 used to promote digestion, like tea and coifee ; its drupes are sugary, and its seeds contain a fixed oil [its 

 bark is used for tanning]. The fruit of Laurdia sempervirens also is edible. 



Atherosperma moschatum is a gigantic tree, much sought for ship-building ; a decoction of its highly 

 aromatic barli, mixed with milk, is a substitute for tea. The drupes of Ambora yield a red juice 

 analogous to arnotto, but they are only eaten by birds. 



CLXXXVI. MYRISTICEJE. 



(Mtkistice^, Br. — Mykisticaoe^, Lindl.) 



Teees or SHEUBS, witli a styptic juice reddening in contact with the air, bark 

 of the branches very often reticulated, young shoots usually furfuraceous. Leaves 

 alternate, nearly distichous, shortly petioled, coriaceous, simple, entire, penninerved, 

 folded lengthwise when young, pubescent or scaly, exstipulate. Flowees dioecious, 

 usually axillary, in racemes, glomerules, heads or panicles, inconspicuous, white or 

 yellow, ,often rusty-pubescent, glabrous within; hract usually solitary, concave. 

 Peeianth simple, coriaceous, tubular or urceolate or sub-campanulate, 3-2-4-fid, 

 aestivation valvate. — Flowers $ t Stamens 3-15, monadelphous ; filaments united 

 into a compact column, cylindric or turbinate or dilated into a sort of denticulate 

 disk ; anthers extrorse, 2-celled, adnate to the column or to the teeth of the disk, 

 rarely inserted on the teeth and free, cells parallel, opening longitudinally. — Flowees 

 $ : Caepbl solitary (very rarely 2, of which one is minute and sterile), free, 1-celled ; 

 s<y?e terminal, very short or ; stigma undivided or sub-lobed ; ovule solitary, basal, 

 erect, anatropous. Capsule fleshy, with 2 undivided or 2-fid valves. Seed erect. 



