MAGNOLIA. 



71 



species of actsea. From the apparent similarity of the plants to ciinicifuga, 

 they might safely be administered in like manner. 



Medical Properties and Uses. — As already remarked, the chemical con- 

 stituents of actaea are supposed to be similar to those of ciinicifuga, and 

 therefore the former might be substituted for the latter in case of necessity, 

 though such necessity is scarcely to be supposed. As domestic remedies 

 both species have been employed, though rarely. In scientific medicine 

 they have seldom been mentioned. 



MAGNOL8ACE/E. 



Character of the Order. — Trees or shrubs with alternate, coriaceous leaves, 

 and convolute stipules which cover the buds and are deciduous. Sepals 

 usually 3 to 6, deciduous ; petals 3 or more, imbricated ; stamens numerous, 

 distinct ; anthers adnate ; carpels 1-celled, numerous, on an elevated re- 

 ceptacle, in fruit forming a sort of fleshy or dry cone. 



The order comprises about a dozen genera and more than seventy 

 species, very few of which, however, are indigenous to North America. 

 The flowers of many species are fragrant and ornamental. As a whole the 

 magnoliacese are characterized by aromatic tonic properties. 



MAGNOLIA. 



Character of the Genus. — Sepals 3 ; petals to 12. Stamens numerous, 

 imbricated, with short filaments, and 

 long anthers, the latter opening inward. 

 Pistils numerous, crowded uj)on the 

 elongated torus, cohering, and in fruit 

 forming a fleshy and somewhat woody 

 conical mass. Carpels dehiscent upon 

 the back, 1- or 2-seeded, the seeds at 

 maturity being suspended from the open 

 capsules by an extensile thread of spiral 

 vessels. Trees or shrubs. Leaves al- 

 ternate, or clustered at the summit of 

 the branches. Flowers large, solitary, 

 terminal. Stipules large, adnate to the 

 petiole, deciduous. 



Magnolia glauca Linne. — Small 

 or Laurel Magnolia. 



Description. — Calyx: sepals 3, mem- 

 branaceous, spatulate, concave, resem- 

 bling petals but much less delicate. Co- 

 rolla : petals 9 to 12, ovate, narrowed at fig. ioo.- Magnolia giauca. 

 the base, concave, erect, arranged in circles of three. Seeds obovate, scarlet. 



A shrub 5 to 20 feet high, with divaricating branches and smooth, gray- 



