THE CHLORANTH FAMILY. 



267 



It is a low herbaceous plant with creeping stems, producing 

 numerous kidney-shaped leaves about 6 inches high, growing 

 compactly together; the flowers are produced on short stalks hid 

 amongst the leaves, and of a brown colour. It was once held 

 in medicinal repute by herbalists, but is not now much used. 



The Garryad Family. 



(Garrtaceje.) 



A family consisting of 6 species of shrubs, with opposite 

 leaves and unisexual catkin flowers. 



Garrya elUptica. A handsome ornamental, hardy, bushy 

 shrub, native of California, and attains the height of from 

 4 to 5 feet. G. Jamaicensis is a lance-leaved shrub, native 

 of Jamaica, and is grown at Kew. 



The wood of this family is destitute of concentric zones, 

 which with other characters renders its position in the system 

 uncertain. Allied to Garri/acece is the family Hehcingiacece, 

 which is founded on a small shrub {^Reliving ia ru$cifoUa\ 

 having opposite leaves and small fascicles of unisexual flowers 

 growing on the midrib of the leaves. It is a native of Japan, 

 nd has been introduced at Kew and found hardy when 

 growing under the protection of a wall. 



The Chloranth Family. 



(CHLORANTHACEiE.) 



This family consists of about 12 or more species of herbs 

 or fruticuls, with opposite simple leaves and small axil- 

 lary panicles of inconspicuous flowers of anomalous structure, 

 which renders their affinity not well determined. The best 

 known is Chloranthus inco)ispicuus, a native of China, having 

 leaves similar to the tea plant, but of a softer texture and 

 paler colour, which are said to be used in imparting a per- 

 fume to tea, but this appears doubtful, as the plant has no 

 perceptible odour, and if used it is probably only to increase 

 the bulk of the tea. 



