380 
APETALOUS OKDERS. 
507. Lauraceje, the Laurel Tribe. — Trees or shrubs. Leaved 
alternate, entire. Calyx 4-6-cleft, usually in two rows, aestiva- 
tion imbricated. Stamens opposite the segments of the calyx, 
usually twice their number. Ova/ry superior, 1-celled. Fruii 
baccate or drupaceous. Seed destitute of albumen; embrya 
large. 
a. Properties : aromatic and fragrant. 
Genera. — Laurus, Cinnamonum, Camphora, Sassafras. 
508. Thymelace^, the Daphne Tribe. — Undershrubs. Leaves 
alternate or opposite, entire. Calyx inferior, tubular, 4:-5-cleft, 
colored. Stamens 8, or equal in num- 
ber to the segments of the calyx, and 
opposite them, inserted in the tube. 
Ovary free, 1-celled. Fruit nut-like 
or drupaceous. Seed solitary, pendu- 
lous, albumen wanting, or thin and 
fleshy ; embryo straight. 
a. Properties: the bark is acrid and irritant; 
fruit narcotic. 
Genera. — Dirca, Daphne. 
Fig. 203. Dirca palustris (leather- wood), a shrub ; 
leaves alternate or scattered, sessile, or nearly so, 
acute at both ends, unfolding after the flowers; 
at a is a flower magnified, showing the stamens 
exsert. 
509. Eleagnace^e, the Oleaster Tribe. — Trees or shrubs^ co^ - 
ered with scurf. Leaves alternate or opposite, entire. Flowers 
usually dioecious. Calyx tubular, persistent. Stamens 3, 4, or 
8, sessile. Ovary free, 1-celled. Fruit crustaceous, inclosed in 
the enlarged, succulent calyx. Seed erect ; embryo straight, in 
thin fleshy albumen. 
a. Properties : fruit sometimes edible. 
Genera. — Hippophae, Eleagnus. 
510. Santalace^, the Sandal-wood Tribe. — Trees or shrubs 
Leaves alternate, entire. Flowers small, rarely dioecious. Cor 
lyx adherent, 4:-5-cleft, valvate in aestivation. Stamens 4 or 5, 
opposite the segments of the calyx, and inserted into their 
bases. Ovary 1-celled ; ovules 1 to 4, pendulous from the 
summit of a central placenta. Fruit nut-like or drupaceous. 
Seed solitary ; embryo minute in the axis of fleshy albumen. 
a. Properties : some plants of this order are astringent, others yield fragrant 
wood. 
Genus. — Thesium. 
511. Nyssace^, the Tupelo Tribe. — Trees. Leaves alternate, 
entire. Flowers dioecious or polygamous. Calyx adherent, 
5-10-parted. Stai'OA'ns long; filaments distinct; anthers % 
celled, adnate, inti3"80. Ovary 1-2-celled ; mmles solitary. 
