450 



DOMESTIC BOTANY. 



The fruit of Aheria caffra, called Kei Apple, a native of 

 Natal, makes an excellent preserve. The pulp of the fruit 

 of Oncoha spinosa, also a native of Natal, is likewise eaten, 

 and the hard shell is made into ornamental snuff-boxes. 



(Ol^acace^.) 



Trees or shrubs. Leaves simple, alternate, entire. Flowers 

 small, axillary, in heads or short racemes. Petals 4 to 6, 

 free, or united in pairs. Stamens free, or variously united 

 to each other. Fruit drupe-like, one-celled, one-seeded, 

 often surrounded by an enlarged fleshy calyx. 



A small family, of about 50 species, all widely distributed 

 within or near the tropics, both in the Old and New World. 

 The principal and best known genera are Olax, Heistena, and 

 Ximmia. The fleshy fruits of some are eaten by the natives, 

 but in general they are austere ; the wood of Olax Zeylanica 

 has a very foetid odour, and in Ceylon is supposed to be efii- 

 cacious in levers. 



KUE, QUASSIA, AND BEAN CAPER ALLIANCE. 

 The Rue Family. 



(RUTACE^.) 



Trees or shrubs, rarely herbs. Leaves broad or heath- 

 like, alternate, simple, or winged, full of aromatic resinous 

 cells. Flowers solitar}^, or in spikes, panicles, or racemes. 

 Petals 4 or 5, or their bases united, forming a ring or tube. 

 Stamens free, or united in a tube, partially perigynous. 

 Fruit a dr}^ valvular capsule, single, or several united, each 

 cell containing 1 or 2 crustaceous seeds. 



An extensive family, consist ng of above 400 species, all 

 widely distributed, many being pretty flowering shrubs, 

 natives of South Africa and Australia ; in tropical America 

 and India the family is represented by lofty trees, and in 

 EMro])e by the herbaceous genus Fraxinella. 



Rue {Rata graveolens). This well-known shrub is a 

 narive of the South of Europe, Western Asia, and Palestine. 



