234 The Natural System of Botany. 



Order — Tiliace^e. The Linden Tribe. 



This order is also nearly related to Malvaceae, as is shown bv 

 its characters. The calyx hat four or five sepals, and the co- 

 rolla as many petals. The stamens are numerous, and are 

 not united into a tube. The pistil is made up of about ten 

 united carpels, with an equal number of stigmas. The an- 

 thers are two-celled, opening lengthwise. They differ from 

 Malvaceae by the separation of their stamens, and by their two- 

 celled anthers, and resemble that order in their general pro- 

 perties, and the quantity of mucilage which they contain. 



Most of the plants belonging to this order are herbaceous or 

 shrubby, and inhabit the tropics, but some species are large 

 trees, and are found in temperate countries. Of these, the 

 common Lime-tree, Bass-wood, or Linden-tree, (Tilia Ameri- 

 ca?ia,) is a well-known species, being native in most of the 

 Middle and Northern States. It is a fine tree, growing to a 

 large size, and its wood is much used in cabinet work. The 

 inflorescence is singular ; the flowers forming a cluster upon 

 an oblique foot-stalk, proceeding from the centre of a lon<r, 

 narrow bract, or floral leaf. There are several European spe- 

 cies of Tilia, the wood of which is in great, use for carving. 

 Many of the most splendid works in this department of art, 

 such as the choir of Trinity College Library at Cambridge, are 

 made of Lime-tree wood. 



Order — Camelliaceje. The Camellia Tribe. 



This is an important and interesting group of plants, whether 

 considered in reference to the great beauty of the flowers of 

 some species, or the universal use of the product of others. 

 The elegant Camellia Japonica is cultivated and admired in 

 every collection, and Tea is drank at every table. The char- 

 acters of the order can be observed in any garden species of 

 Camellia. The calyx is composed of from five to seven se- 

 pals, unequal in size, and somewhat overlapping each other. 

 The petals are from five to nine, also occasionally imbricated, 

 and sometimes adherent at the base. The stamens are many 



