456 



DOMESTIC BOTANY. 



generally 5 or 10. Stamens 5 to 10, or many, seated on a 

 hypOgynous fleshy disk. Pistils several, united in 1. Fruit 

 consisting of several seeded carpels, articulated to a fleshy 

 base. 



This family consists of about 100 species, widely spread over 

 all warm regions ; they contain a bitter principle. Species 

 of Gompliia and Oclina are neat leaved shrubs with yellow 

 flowers, sev^eral of which have been introduced. 



CORIARIE^. 



Small trees or shrubs, with erect or decumbent branches, 

 and simple, opposite, smooth leaves, generally longitudi- 

 nally veined. Flowers small, in long axillary racemes, some 

 unisexual. Fruit, berries formed of the fleshy gland-like 

 petals, enclosing 5 united ovaries, each containing a single 

 seed. 



Not more than 4 species constitute this family. On ac- 

 count of some peculiarity in the character of the flower as 

 well as in habit, it is difiicult to determine the nearest 

 alliance of this family, but most botanists place it near the 

 Eue Family. 



Coriaria myrtifoUa. An erect shrub, with myrtle-like 

 leaves, native of the South of Europe. It has received the 

 name of Coriaria, meaning leather, on account of its being 

 used in tanning. Its fruit is highly poisonous, fatal effects 

 having occurred to soldiers in Spain through eating it. It is 

 hardy in this country. 



Coriaria nepalensis. A more spreading species than the 

 preceding, native of Nepal, where its fruit, which is not 

 unwholesome, is said to be eaten. 



Coriaria I'uscifolia, known in gardens by the name of 

 C. sarmentosa. A native of New Zealand. It is a shrub 

 from 10 to 15 feet high, assuming the character of a small 

 tree, having a stem 6 inches or more in diameter. It occu- 

 pies large tracts of land, its presence indicating good soil. 

 The fruit consists of a small black, shining, pulpy berry^ 

 from which a refreshing wine is made by the natives. The 



