AZOLLA 
255 
L. is the deadly nightshade. It contains the alkaloid atropin, the 
basis of the drug belladonna used in medicine. 
Attalea H. B. et K. Palmae (iv. 7). 25 sp. S. Am. A.funifera Mart, 
yields the Bahia Piassaba fibre of commerce (fiew Bull . 1889, P* 237) . 
Atylosia Wight et Arn. Leguminosae (in. 10). 20 sp. trop. As., 
Austr., Madag., Mascarenes. 
Aucuba Thunb. Cornaceae. 3 sp. Himal. to Japan. A. japonica 
Thunb. is the Japan laurel of our shrubberies; it is dioecious. 
Augusta Leandr. = Stifftia Mikan. 
Auricula Tourn. ex Spach = Primula Tourn. 
Avellinia Pari. Gramineae (x). 1 sp. Medit. 
Avena Linn. Gramineae (ix). 50 sp. temp, and Mts. of trop., 2 in 
Brit, (oat-grass). A. saliva L., the cultivated oat, is perhaps derived 
from A. fatua L. It is cultivated in Eur. to 69 N. and forms the 
staple of the food of a large population. [See De Candolle’s Orig. 0/ 
Cult. Pits. p. 373.] The 2 — 6-flowered spikelets form a loose panicle. 
The paleae are awned, the awn of the inf. palea being usually twisted 
and hygroscopic. In A. sterilis L. the awns cross, and when wetted 
try to uncurl and thus press on one another till a sort of explosion 
occurs jerking away the fruits. 
Averrhoa Linn. Oxalidaceae. 3 or 4 sp. trop. As. (?; so long cultivated 
that their origin is uncertain). A . Bilimbi L., the blimbing, and 
A. Carambola L. are cultivated for the fruit, which is borne on the 
older stems (p. 156), and has a pleasantly acid flavour. 
Avicennia Linn. Verbenaceae (vn). 3 sp. trop., forming one of the 
constituents of the mangrove vegetation (p. 191). Their seeds 
germinate in the fruit, and they have aerial roots projecting upwards 
out of the mud like those of Sonneratia. 
Axinandra Thw. (incl. Naxiandra Krasser). Melastomaceae (hi). 
4 sp. Ceylon, Malaya (. Lythraceae , Bentham- Hooker). 
Aydendron Nees. Lauraceae (11). 45 sp. trop. Am. 
Ayenia Loefl. Sterculiaceae. 15 sp. trop. and subtrop. Am. 
Azadirachta A. Juss. = MeliaLinn. A. indica A. Juss. = M. Azadirachta. 
Azalea Gaertn. = Loiseleuria Desv. 
Azalea Linn. = Rhododendron Linn., from the type form of which it is 
chiefly distinguished by its 5 sta. and annual leaves. 
Azara Ruiz et Pav. Flacourtiaceae. 22 sp. Mex. and S. Am., chiefly 
Chili. Shrubs with alt. leaves ; one stipule is frequently almost as 
large as the leaf to which it belongs, giving the appearance of a pair 
of leaves not opposite to one another. The flr. is apetalous and the 
outer sta. often without anthers. 
Azedarach Tourn. ex Linn. = Melia Linn. 
Azima Lam. Salvadoraceae. 2 sp. trop., Afr., As., Polyn. In the 
leaf axils are thorns (the leaves of an undeveloped shoot, cf. Cac- 
taceae). Fir. polypetalous. 
Azolla Lam. Salviniaceae. 4 sp. trop. and sub-trop. The general 
structure is like that of Salvinia. Two leaves are formed at each 
