482 



DOMESTIC BOTANY. 



planted near dwellings for the shade it affords. C. calaha is 

 a similar tree, but with longer leaves, native of the West 

 Indies and tropical America, where its wood is known as 

 Santa Maria Wood. It is said to be suitable for ship- 

 building, and a quantity was sent to this country some years 

 ago for that purpose, but was not much appreciated. The 

 seeds yield an oil. 



Clusia alba and C. rosea, natives of the West Indies 

 and tropical America are small much-branching trees of a 

 shrubby character, with thick leathery leaves. They pro- 

 duce thick aerial roots with which they cling to other trees, 

 or descend to, and become fixed in, the ground, similar to 

 the Banyan tree. 



The West Indian Ivy Family. 



(Marcgraviace^.) 



Trees or shrubs, often clinging climbers. Leaves alter- 

 nate, entire, often thick and shining. Flowers in umbels, 

 spikes, or racemes, furnished with bracts, which are some- 

 times hooded or bag-shaped. Petals 5, imbricated, or 

 hooded. Stamens generally numerous. Fruit succulent or 

 capsular. Seeds numerous. 



About 30 species are enumerated of this family. They 

 are natives of the West Indies and tropical America, where 

 they climb over trees like ivy. The curious structure of 

 their flowers invests them with botanical interest. They 

 are represented in the hothouses of this country by Norantea 

 coccinea and Marcgravia umhellata. 



The Tutsan Family. 



(Htpericace^.) 



Herbs, shrubs, or frutlets. Stems generally angular. 

 Leaves opposite, rarely alternate, entire, often with pellucid 

 dots, some heath-like. Flowers solitary or somewhat um- 

 bellate or panicled. Petals 4 or 5 , unequal sided and twisted 

 in the bud, bordered with black dots. Stamens numerous, 

 distinct or united in 1 or more parcels. Pistils 3-5. Fruit 



