248 



DOMESTIC BOTANY. 



the height of 20 or 30 feet, having a drupaceous fruit, which 

 is used as a preserve, and may be considered one of the few 

 native fruits of Australia worthy of the name of fruit. 



Leptomeria acerha and several other species, natives of 

 Australia, are broom-like plants, bearing pulpy berried fruit 

 called the native currant. 



Santalaceous plants have been found difficult to cultivate 

 in this country. 



The Australian Sassafras Family. 



(MONIMIACE^.) 



Evergreen aromatic trees or shrubs, with opposite, entire, 

 or toothed leaves, and small inconspicuous, unisexual flowers. 

 Fruit consisting of 1 or several 1 -seeded nuts, enclosed in 

 the large tubular calyx. 



About 50 or more species are described as belonging to 

 this family. They are chiefly natives of South America, a 

 few, of the tropics of the eastern hemisphere, also of Aus- 

 tralia and New Zealand. 



Tasmanian Sassafras Tree (Atherosperma moschata). A 

 native of Mount "Wellington in Tasmania. It attains the 

 height of from 100 to 150 feet, and a diameter of 2 J feet. Its 

 aromatic bark has been used as a substitute for tea ; it yields 

 a fragrant essential oil. 



Australian Sassafras Tree {Doryphora Sassafras). A 

 native of New South "Wales, and equal in magnitude to 

 the preceding. 



New Zealand Sasssiiras (Laurelia Novcb Zelandics). A large 

 handsome tree of New Zealand, of from 100 to 150 feet in 

 height, having buttresses 15 feet in diameter. Z. sempervirens, 

 also a large tree similar to the last, native of Chili and Peru. 

 Its fruit being aromatic, it has obtained the name of Peru- 

 vian nutmeg, but is of no value. 



Boldoa fragrans. A small tree with broad entire bay- 

 scented leaves, is also a native of Chili, and, with the above 

 named species, is grown in the greenhouses at Kew. 



