THE SOUARI-NUT FAMILY. 



479 



and Camellias have become one of the most important trade- 

 plants, both in this country and on the Continent. 



Camellia Sasanqua. A. small-leaved species growing in 

 the form of a bush. It attains the height of from 12 to 15 

 feet, and bears a profusion of w^hite flowers. It is often 

 planted as a shelter for tea-plants, and its leaves are fre- 

 quently mixed with tea. The Chinese have an idea" that the 

 flowers scent the tea-leaves, and therefore collect the latter 

 while the Sasanqua is in flower. The seeds of this and of 

 Camellias in general contain a great quantity of oil, which is 

 much used for domestic purposes in China. 



Visnea Mocanera. A shrub, native of the Canaries, having 

 small shining elliptical leaves and white flowers, like the tea- 

 plant. Linnseus gave it the name of Mocanera, on the sup- 

 j)Osition that its fruit was the Mocan, used as food as well as 

 in medicine by the ancient extinct race of the Guanches, the 

 original natives of the Canaries. Plants of it were intro- 

 duced at Kew about 1815, and are kept in the green- 

 house. 



Stuartia pentagyna, S. Malachodendron, and Gordmia 

 lasianthus, represent the family in North America. They 

 are deciduous shrubs, having large white showy flowers, and 

 are hardy but rare in this country. 



The Souari-Nut Family. 



(RlIIZOBOLACE^.) 



Large trees, with alternate or opposite thick trifoliate 

 leaves, jointed at the foot-stalks. Flowers large, with jointed 

 peduncle. Petals 5 or more. Stamens numerous, mona- 

 delphous, in 2 rows. Fruit consisting of one or more united 

 nuts. 



About 10 species of large trees, natives of various parts 

 of tropical America, constitute this family. 



Souari or Pekea Nut {Garyocar nucifera), A native 

 of British Guiana and Brazil, often attaining the height of 

 100 feet. The fruit is globose, and when perfect contains 



