CHAP. III. 



MAG^OLIJ CEjE. 



259 



* 3. Illi'cium pakviflo'rum ik/jc/i.r. The small-flowered lUiciam. 



Identification. Mich. F!. Bor. Amer., 1. p. 326. ; Ph. Fl. Amer. Sept. 2., p. 380. : Dec. Prod., 1. p. 77. : 

 and Don's Mill., 1. p. 79. 



Synonyines. llllcium anisktum Bartram; the small-flowered Aniseed Tree; Badiane h. petites 



Fleurs, Fr. ; kleinbluthiger Sternanis, Ger. 

 Engravings. Vent. Cels, t. 22. ; Lois. Herb. Amat., t, 330. 



Spec. Char. Petals 9 — 12, yellowish, ovate-roundish. Sepals 3, ovate, some- 

 what ciliated. {Don's Mill, I p. 79.) West Florida. Flowers yellowish 

 white. From May to June. 1790. Height 8 ft. 



Description. This species is more upright and free-growing than either of 

 the other kinds. The twigs and stems, which are numerous, are quite green 

 when young ; but as they become old they assume a grej'ish hue. The leaves 

 are of the same consistency as those of I. floridanum, and of nearly the same 

 size, but longer, and paler on the under side, with very short petioles. The 

 flowers are smaller, and not so open as those of the other species ; and their 

 colour is of a yellowish white. 1. parviflorum is a low evergreen shrub, or 

 rather bush, highly aromatic in every part when in a growing state j but the 

 scent soon evaporates from every part of the plant after it is gathered, except 

 from the fruit, the scent of which becomes even more fragrant, and more pene- 

 trating, when it is dry. In England, this plant seldom produces annual shoots 

 of more than 5 in. or 6 in. in length ; and it will probably attain the height of 

 5 ft. in ten years, and its full size in about twice that period. In Florida it 

 forms a compact evergreen bush from 8 ft. to 10 ft. high. 



Geography^ History, ^c. This shrub was first discovered by Bartram, and 

 afterwards by Michaux, in Florida, on the bank of the lake Georgia; and it 

 was sent by the latter to France, where it was cultivated in Cels's Nursery and 

 in the Jardin des Plantes, in 1789. It was kept the first winter in the con- 

 servatory, and flowered in the course of the following summer. (JVouv. Dvh.) 

 It was introduced into England in 1790. The bark has exactly the flavour 

 of the sassafi-as root, and the dried fruit is used for scenting linen. The 

 propagation, culture, and price, in the London nurseries, are the same as those 

 of the preceding species ; at BoUwyller, ?j and in New York, 1 dollar. 



CHAP. III. 



OF THE HARDY TREES AND SHRUBS BELONGING TO THE ORDER 

 MAGNOL/^C^.^. 



TuE term Magnolidcece is applied to this order, because the genus Magnoha 

 is considered as its type. The diagnostic of the order, as given by De 

 Candolle, was made to comprehend some tribes which have since been se- 

 parated from it; but, as the hardy species still belonging to Magnolwce'tE are all 

 included under the genera Magnolia and Liriodendron, a sufficient character 

 for them will be : a calyx of 3 deciduous sepals ; a corolla of 3—12 petals, 

 disposed in threes; anthers adnate, elongated; carpels numerous, disposed 

 along a spiked axis; leaves destitute of pellucid dots, stipulate when young, 

 the stipules convolute, and enclosing the unexpanded leaves. Evergreen and 

 deciduous trees and shrubs. {Don's Mill, adapted.) The differential cha- 

 racters of the genera Magnolia and Liriodendron are as follows : — 



Magno'lj^ L. Carpel dehiscent ; that is, opening to admit the escape of the 

 seed. 



Liriode'ndron L. Carpel indehiscent; that is, not opening to admit the 

 £scape of the seed. 



u 3 



