THE VERBENA FAMILY. 



277 



Aloysia citriodora, is a stiff branching shrub, with whorls of 

 three leaves, native of Chili, and was introduced to this 

 country about the end of the last century ; it is hardy in 

 many parts, and on account of its fragrance is often to be 

 seen growing against cottages. 



Teak Tree (Tectona grandis). A native of India, extend- 

 ing eastward to Burmah and islands of the Indian Ocean. It 

 is a magnificent timber tree, the wood being hard and very 

 durable ; it is largely imported to this country, and used for 

 shipbuilding and railway carriages. Its young branches are 

 quadrangular with opposite ovate or elliptical leaves about 6 

 or 8 inches in length, and very rough on the upper surface, 

 which renders them useful for polishing ; they also yield a 

 red dye, which is to be seen by the upper surface of the 

 young leaves becoming of a red colour on being bruised. 

 An oil called teak-wood oil is extracted, and used for var- 

 nishing and polishing wood, &c. The Indian teak forests 

 are now under G-overnment protection. 



Another allied Indian tree is Graelina arbor ea ; it also has 

 hard wood, which is used in India for many purposes, the 

 same as teak, but it is a much smaller tree. 



Vitex littoralis. A large tree, native of New Zealand, at- 

 taining the height of 50 or 60 feet, and of large diameter ; 

 it has digitate leaves, and very hard and heavy wood that is 

 used for purposes under water. It is known by the native 

 name Puricri. 



The genus Clerodendron belongs to this family, a great 

 number of showy species having been introduced. Most 

 of them have large umbel-like heads of white or scarlet 

 flowers. 



In botanical alliance with VerhenacecB and Lahiateoe, is a 

 small family named Selaginacecd, consisting of 120 species 

 of herbs, small shrubs, or fruticuls ; those native of 

 South Africa, are chiefly represented by the genus 

 Selago^ of which several species are cultivated in the 

 greenhouses of this country; those of Europe and Madeira 

 by the pretty blue-flowering genus Glohularia. They 



