MANUAL OF NATURAL HISTORY. 433 



sisting of nuts enclosed in the fleshy tube of 

 the calyx ; cotyledons convolute. Natives of 

 North America and Japan. 



IX. ORDER.— Daphnals (Daphnales). 



Flowers monochlamydeous ; carpel solitary ; em- 

 bryo amygdaloidal ; albumen none. 



1. Family. — Dodder-Laurels (Cassythacese). Para- 



sitic, climbing, Dodder-like ; scales for 

 leaves ; perianth 6-parted ; stamens twelve, 

 in four rows, petaloid ; anthers 2-celled, 

 bursting by recurved valves; ovary 1-celled ; 

 style short ; stigma simple ; fruit a nut, 

 embedded in the succulent permanent peri- 

 anth. Found in hot tropical regions. 



2. Family. — Laurels (Lauracese). Trees; leaves 



mostly alternate, exstipulate ; flowers in 

 panicles or umbels ; perianth 4-6-cleft ; aesti- 

 vation imbricate ; stamens opposite segments 

 of perianth ; anthers bursting by longitudinal 

 valves; ovary 1-celled ; style simple; stigma 

 obtuse ; fruit baccate or drupaceous, naked 

 or covered. Occur in tropical Asia and 

 America, rare in Europe and Africa. Most- 

 ly aromatic and fragrant ; among their pro- 

 ducts are Cinnamon and Cassia-bark, True 

 Camphor, Sassafras, Bebeerine (Nectandra), 

 Avocados, Brazilian-Nutmegs. (Laurinece, 

 Ventenat.) 



3. Family. — Silver-trees (Proteacese). Shrubs or small 



