ETESTSG PEimiOSE FAMILY. 



135 



perides. so celebrated in ancient fable : but if the Orange had then been 

 known, it would doubtless have been esteemed a more precious fruit by 

 the "Western Maidens." The C. Japonica. Pgr?. (Pyrus Japonica, 

 Willd.) is well known for its beauty as a flowering shrub, in the gar- 

 dens ; but the fruit, though remarkably fragrant., is very hard and 

 acerb, and of little value. 



Oedee XXVn. CALTCAXTHA'CE^. (Caeolixa-allspice 



Family.) 



Shmbs with opposite entire leaves without stipules. The sepals and. petals similar and inde- 

 finite. Otherwise mostly as in Rosacese. 



1. CALYCAN'THUS, L. 



[Greek, kalyx. a cup, and anthos, a flower ; from the closed cup which contains tlie pistils.] 



Sepals numerous, mostly colored like the petals, united below into a 

 cup. Petals similar to the sepals, inserted in several rows on the top of 

 the closed calyx-tube. Stamens numerous, just within the petals ; some 

 of them sterile. Pistils many, enclosed in the calyx-tube, inserted on 

 its base and inner face. Fruit like a rose hip. but larger and dry when 

 ripe, enclosing the large akenes. Shrubs with opposite entire leaves, 

 and large, lurid purple flowers terminating the leafy branches. Bark 

 and foliage aromatic ; the crushed flowers exhaling more or less the fra- 

 grance of strawberries. 



Carolina-allspice. Sweet-scented Shrub. Strawberry-bush. 



Obs. There are several species of this genus cultivated for the fra- 

 grance of their rather unsightly flowers ; they are natives of the southern 

 portion of the United States, but are quite hardy northward. The three 

 species, or, as they are classed by some, varieties, are distinguished as 

 follows : 



C. flo'ridus, L. Leaves oval or roundish, downy beneath. 



C. Iseviga'tus, WUId. Leaves oblong, smooth, green on both sides ; 

 flowers smaller. 



C. glau'cus, WiUd. Leaves oblong- or lance-ovate, pointed, glaucous 

 or whitened beneath. 



Ordee XXYIIT. OXAGRA'CEJE. (Evening Primrose Family.) 



Herbs with alt?rnaie entire leave? without stipules and axillary flmuers with the parts in 

 fours. Tube of the culyx adherent to the 2-4-celled ovary and prolonged ahove it : its 

 lobes valvate in the bui. Petals vallate in the bud and with the 8 stamens inserted on 

 the summ'.t of the calyx-tube. Follen grains connected by cobwebby threads. Style 

 single, slender : stigma' 2 -i-lohed or capitate. Pod 4-celled, 4-valved ; placentae in its 

 axiB. Seeds without albumen. 



An order containing some plants (such as the Fuchias) , which are interesting for their 

 beauty, but none of Agricultural value. 



