226 



Fam. 29. Lauraceae. 

 (Plate 62; Figs. 100, 101.) 



Trees or, as the Cassytheae, parasitical herbs. Flowers 

 usually bisexual. Perianth 4 6 cleft. Stamens usually 

 in 3 whorls; anthers of the outer whorl introrse, of 

 the inner whorl extrorse, 2 — 4-celled, each cell open- 

 ing by a persistent valve. Carpel [, free, unilocular, 

 with 1 anatropous ovule. Fruit fleshy, a drupe {Ocotcti) 

 or pseudodrupe. Seed exalbuminous, the cotyledons large, 

 usually plano-convex. 



J. 



\c)S-j 



Fig. 100. Lauraceae. A. Cassytha c'tliolata Nees i. Diagram of flower, o. Stamen 

 of outer whorl. m. Stamen of middle whorl. i. Stamen of inner whorl. 

 2. Flower with bracts. 7/1. 3. Flower in long, section. 10 1. 4 and 5. Stamen 

 of outer whorl. 6. Stamen of middle whorl. 7. Stamen of inner whorl. 8. Long, 

 section of fruit (pseudodrupe). pe. Succulent perianth. .«. Sclcrcnchyma (pericarp). 

 em. Embryo. B. Ocotea bullata E. Me)'. 1. Flower in long, section: to left 

 the ovary. 7/1. 2. Stamen of inner whorl with basal glands, io/l. 



Various species of this family are cultivated on account 

 of the aromatic oils which they contain, e.g. cinnamon, 

 camphor, laurel, while others yield delicious fruits, e.g. 

 Persea gratissima, the so-called "avocado pear*." 



Leaves without stipules, mostly alternate; bark and 

 leaves of the arborescent species with oil-cells or slime- 

 tubes. About 1000 species in the warmer parts of the 

 globe, but only 10 in South Africa. Flor. Cap. v, i, 493. 



* Name a corruption of the Mexican "aguacate." 



