256 ARBORETUM AND FRUTICETUM. PART III. 



CHAP. II. 



OF THE HARDY LIGNEOUS PLANTS OF THE ORDER \V INTER A^ CEJE. 



This order, which was formerlyjincluded in Magnoliara^, has been separated 

 from it by Mr. Brown. It is named Winteracere, because the Drimys Winteri 

 Forst., previously Wintera aromatica Murr. (named in honour of Captain 

 Winter, who sailed with Sir Francis Drake), is the type of the order. The 

 diagnostics are, ealyx of 2 — 6 deciduous sepals, and 2 to many petals ; the 

 sepals and petals, when more than two, disposed ternarily ; carpels whorled, 

 very rarely solitary from abortion; leaves full of pellucid dots. Illicium is 

 the only genus of this order which contains species that will stand out in the 

 open air. 



Genus I. 



ILLFCIUM L. The Illicium, or Aniseed Tree. Lin. Syst. Polyandria 



Polygynia. 



Identification. Lin. Gen. 5 fill. ; Lam. 111. ; Dec. Prod., 1. p. 77. ; Don's Mill., 1. p. 78. 



Synonymes. Badiane, or Anis etoild, Fr. ; Stemanis, Ger. 



Derivations. The generic name, Illicium, is formed from the Latin word illicio, to allure, on account 

 of the agreeable aromatic smell of all the species. It is called the Aniseed Tree, from its smell 

 bearing a strong resemblance to that of aniseed. Badiane appears to be an aboriginal French 

 word ; Anis £toile, and Stemanis, signify literally the starry anise, and may allude to the starry dis- 

 position of the parts of the flower and of the capsules. 



Gen. Char. Calyx of 3-6 petal-like sepals. Carpels stellately disposed, cap- 

 sular, opening on the upper side, 1 -seeded. (Don's Mill.,i. p. 79.) 



Description. The species are evergreen shrubs, with smooth, shining, ob- 

 long, stalked, leathery leaves ; generally attaining the height, in their native 

 countries, of from 5 ft. to 12 ft. ; and, in this country, of from 3 ft. to 8 ft. in 

 the open air, and more in a conservatory. They are nearly hardy. 



Geography, History , §c. These shrubs are found in the southern states 

 of North America, and in China and Japan. One species has been known in 

 Britain since 1766; but the others are of more recent introduction. They are 

 all spicy and aromatic ; and, are employed, in their native countries, in the same 

 manner as anise and coriander seeds are in Europe. Northward of London, 

 as well as on the Continent, they are placed in the green-house during winter, 

 or planted in the conservatory. Wherever they are planted, in common with 

 most evergreen trees and shrubs having broad shining leaves, they prefer the 

 shade to the sun ; and, consequently, if they are planted against a wall, it ought 

 to be one facing the south-east, or the south west, and never against one full 

 south. They are all slow growers, and, to produce any effect, should never be 

 planted near trees or shrubs which grow rapidly. They may all be planted in 

 the open ground, in warm sheltered situations ; but they require protection 

 during winter. They are all easily propagated by cuttings of the ripened 

 wood planted in sand, and covered with a glass, or by layers ; and they all 

 grow in a light loamy soil, or in a mixture of loam and sandy peat. One or 

 more of the species is in most botanic gardens; and small plants may be pro- 

 cured, in some of the principal London nurseries, at from 2s. Gd. to 5s. each. 

 The species are I. floridanum, I. anisatum, and I. parviflorum. 



* 1. Illi'cium florida v num Ellis. The Florida Illicium. 



Identification. Lin. Mant, 395. ; Willd. Sp., 2. p. 1294. ; Dec. Prod., 1. p. 77. ; Don's Mill., 1. p. 79. 



Synonymes. The Florida Aniseed Tree, red-flowered Anise-seed tree Mor. Hist.; Badiane de la Flo- 

 ride, Fr. ; uniichter (spurious) Stemanis, Ger. 



Engravings. Lam. 111., t. 493. f. 1. ; Curt. Bot Mag., 439. ; Lodd. Bot Cab., t. 209. ; E. of PI., 7901.; 

 and our fig. 32. 



