SANDAL-WOOD FAMILY 433 



the supporting tree, pierces its bark, and finally roots itself 

 in the growing wood. The Common Mistletoe is capable of 

 growing on a great number of very different trees, having the 

 power of selecting and appropriating to its own use such juices 

 as are fitted for its sustenance. It may readily be propagated by 

 attaching the fresh berries to the bark on the under side of a 

 branch of the Apple. Great virtues were attributed to this plant 

 by the Druids ; but it has now no medicinal repute, though there 

 is an enormous demand for it in connection with Christmas 

 festivities. 



1. Viscum (Mistletoe). — Flowers dioecious, small, green, clus- 

 tered in the forks of the branches ; perianth-leaves 4, united ; 

 stamens many-chambered, opening by pores ; stigma sessile. 

 (Name, the Latin name of the plant, signifying birdlime or 

 alluding to the sticky berry.) 



1. V. album (Common Mistletoe). — The only British species, a 

 yellow-green, glabrous plant with bifurcating cylindric stems; 

 thick, leathery, obtuse leaves, narrower on the staminate plants ; 

 berries waxen-white. — On the Apple and other trees, but very 

 rarely on the Oak ; chiefly in the south. Most conspicuous in 

 winter, when its berries ripen. — Fl. March — May. Perennial. 



Ord. LXX. SantalAce^e. — Sandal-wood Family 



A small Order of herbs, shrubs, and trees, mostly root-parasites, 

 which are widely distributed over the globe. They have mostly 

 scattered, simple, exstipulate leaves; small flowers; perianth 

 attached to the ovary, 3 — 5 -cleft, valvate when in bud ; stamens 

 as many as the lobes of the perianth, and opposite and attached 

 to them, with short filaments ; ovary 1 -chambered ; style 1 ; ovules 

 2 — 5 ; fruit hard, dry, indehiscent, 1 -seeded. The only important 

 product of the Order is the fragrant wood of the East India 

 Sandal-wood (Sdntalum album) and of the allied Australasian 

 species, which is used for cabinet-work, incense, perfumery, and 

 medicine. There is only one British species. 



1. Thesium (Bastnrd Toad-flax). — Slender herbs with narrow 

 leaves ; perfect flowers ; perianth 4 — 5-cleft, persistent ; stamens 

 4 — 5, each with a tuft of hairs at its base ; style short ; stigma 

 undivided ; ovules 3. — (Name of doubtful origin.) 



1. T. humifusum (Bastard Toad-flax). — The only British species; 

 a small plant with fibrous roots attached to those of various other 

 plants; a yellow, woody rhizome ; prostrate branches spreading in 



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