iy “ at, Mah Sen 
bow . es 
i 
aes Ppa s sischigal: and Physiological Botany. ce as 
Dima rats, Hippomane, Chaeebherat Mercur ins Acalypha, Cale. mre 
bogyne, Ricinus, Manihot, Yatropha, Euphorbia, Siphonia.| A largé, 
number of species possess a poisonous latex, which is especially danger- rest vo 
ous in some tropical kinds, as Hippomane Mancinella of tropical America. | 
On the other hand the dried latex of Zuphorbia officinarum and of some 
other African species, is used in medicine under 
the name euphorbium ; and of late years also the 
oil-glands and hairs of the East Indian Lotdlera 3 
tinctorta, known as camala, and previously used => 
only asa dye. Other officinal preparations are 
cascarilla, the bark of Croton Lluteria; castor- 
er oil, derived from the seeds of Azcznus com- 
pg ee munts, and croton-oil from those of Cvoton 
fruit of Mercurialis Tyelinm, Shell-lac is obtained from the East- 
per ennts (magnined). o) ; ae 
Indian Croton lacciferum ; caoutchouc or india- 
rubber from the dried latex of S¢phonia elastica and brasiliensis from 
Brazil and Guiana. The starchy rhizome of Manihot utilissima, culti- 
vated in many tropical countries and especially in America. affords, 
after the removal of the acrid latex, tapioca, from which cassava-bread 
is made. The castor-oil plant is cultivated for the beauty of its foliage. 
[To this cohort belong also Buxacee (Buxus), and several other un- 
important orders. 
Cohort VII. PIPERALES. Flowers hermaphrodite or diclinous, 
usually in spikes or catkins; perianth rudimentary or absent ; ovary 
unilocular with a single ovule, or of several free carpels with two or 
more ovules. Orders :—Piperacee (Piper, Cubeba, Peperomia) ; Chior. 
anthacee (Chloranthus). 
SUBDIVISION Il. Ovary inferior ; perianth more or less distinct in either 
male or Semale Mowers, or both. 
Cohort VIIT. Asarares, Flowers hermaphrodite or aichwanes 
perlanth usually coloured ; stamens epigynous in the henmenbaedie | 
flowers ; ovary uni- or multi-locular ; fruit a capsule or berry. Orders:— 
_ Aristolochiacee (Asarum, Aristolochia) ; Rafflesiacee (Rafflesia, Hydnora, 
Cytinis). 
Cohort IX. QUERNALES, Flowers diclinous; the male flowers in 
catkins, the female solitary or in spikes; perianth green, that of the 
male flower lobed or redueed te a scale, of the female flower minute, — 
2-6-lobed or toothed; ovary 1-6-locular; ovule solitary basal, or 
one or more pendulous ; fruit one-seeded ; seed without endosperm er 
Trees with simple or compound leaves]. rc ea 
Order 1, CUPULIFER, Trees or shrubs with simple alternate re 
