17 
Order VIII. WINTERACE^. The Winter’s Bark Tribe. 
WiNTE REiE, i2. Broit'n in De Cand. Syst. 1. 548. (1818.) — Illicie^e, DC. Prodr. 1. ?7. 
(1824.) a section of Magnoliaceae. 
Essential Character. — Flowers hermaphrodite or unisexual. Sepals 2-6, some- 
times not distinguishable from the petals, either deciduous or persistent. Petals 2-30, in 
several rows when more than 5. Stamens short, indefinite, hypogynous, distinct. Anthers 
adnate. Ovaries definite, arranged in a single whorl, 1 -celled, with several suspended or 
erect ovules, which are attached to the suture. Stigmas simple, sessile. Fruit either dry 
or succulent, consisting of a single row of carpels, which are either dehiscent or indehis- 
cent, and distinct. Seeds solitary or several, with or without aril. Embryo very small, 
straight, in the base of fieshy albumen. — Shrubs or small trees. Leaves alternate, dotted, 
coriaceous, persistent, with convolute deciduous stipules. Floivers solitary, often brown 
or chocolate^ colour, and sweet-scented. 
Anomalies. The flowers of Tasmannia are dioecious or polygamous, and the carpels 
solitary. 
Affinities. Closely related to Magnoliaceae, from whicli they differ 
chiefly in their dotted leaves and aromatic qualities. A. de St. Hilaire, how- 
ever, states that some Michelias ha’se dotted leaves, and so destroy the limits 
between this order and Magnohaceae. {FI. Bras. 1. 27.) According to St. 
Hilaire, the supposed stipules of Winteraceae are only imperfectly developed 
leaves which enfold the buds. PI. Usuelles, no. 26-28. But what are sti- 
pules except starved leaves ? The same author remarks, that Bonpland con- 
sidered the embryo as destitute of albumen, which was, however a mistake, it 
being undoubtedly as it is here described. For several good remarks upon 
Drimys, see the PI. Usuelles as quoted. 
Geography. A small order, with an extensive range. Of the 10 species 
enumerated by De Candolle, 2 are found in New Holland, 2 in the hotter 
parts of America, 2 in the southern and 2 in the northern territories of the 
same continent, 1 in China and Japan, and 1 in New Zealand. 
Properties. All that writers have stated about the aromatic stimulant 
properties of Magnoliaceae should be applied to this order, formerly confounded 
with them. The seeds of Illicium anisatum are considered in India to be 
powerfully stomachic and carminative. The fruit of that plant is the star-anise 
of the shops. A very fragrant volatile oil is also obtained from the seeds. The 
Chinese bum them in their temples, and Europeans employ them to aromatise 
certain liquors, such as the Anisette de Bourdeaux. Drimys Winteri yields 
the Winter’s Bark, which is known for its resemblance to that of cinnamon. 
A. R. A bark called Melambo Bark, possessing similar properties, is de- 
scribed by Cadet in the Journal de Pharmacie, 1815, p. 20. The bark of 
Drimys granatensis, called Casca JAnia in Brazil, is much used against colic. 
It is tonic, aromatic, and stimulant, and resembles, in nearly £iU respects, the 
Drimys Winteri, or Winter’s Bark. Plantes Usuelles, 26-28. 
genera. 
Illicium, L. Drimys, Forst. Tasmannia, R. Br. 
Temus, Mol. Wintera, Murr. 
Winterana, Sol. 
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