THE MILKWORT FAMILY. 



475 



showy. Sepals 5, coloured. Petals 3 or 5, unequal, 2 often 

 united (keel-like), 1 large and crest-fringed. Stamens 4, 

 distinct, or 8, unequal, usually combined in a tube, wbich is 

 either entire or split in two parts. Pistil 1. Fruit dry, 

 drupaceous, or flat and winged like a samar ; 1-seeded. 



About 500 species are enumerated in this family, and are 

 widely distributed over the temperate and tropical regions. 



The South African species are showy favourites in the 

 greenhouse. In Australia they are represented by the pretty 

 genus Comesperma, and in this country by the common 

 Milkwort, Polygala vulgaris^ a neat little plant, with blue or 

 white flowers. A bitter astringent principle pervades this 

 family ; some are poisonous. Some species of Securidaca 

 yield strong fibre. 



Rhatany {Krameria triandra). A perennial, with strong 

 reddish roots, native of Peru. The roots are largely im- 

 ported into Portugal, where an extract is made from them, 

 and used in colouring port wine. When prescribed alone, 

 it is a valuable tonic, and it is believed that the medicinal 

 properties of port wine are due to it ; but it has now lost its 

 reputation, and little is imported. 



Snake Root (Polygala Senega). An erect, slender, her- 

 baceous plant, with lance-shaped leaves, native of North 

 America, having strong, thick, branching roots, covered with 

 ash-coloured bark, and supposed to resemble the tail of the 

 rattlesnake, as a remedy for the bite of which it has been 

 long famed among the Indians. It is employed medicinally 

 for many complaints in the United States. A principle 

 called Senegin has been found in this plant ; it is a brown 

 substance, and excites violent sneezing. 



THE CAMELLIA, GAMBOGE, AND TUTSAN 

 ALLIANCE. 



(DlPTEROCARPE^.) 



Generally large trees. Leaves alternate, with parallel 

 veins running from the midrib to the margin, and deciduous 



