49 
in the Epigynous group near Alangiaceae, with which as will be seen by exa- 
mining their characters, they have so many points in common. 
Geography. Natives of North America and Japan, or the north of 
China. % 
Properties. Unknown. 
GENERA. 
§ 1. Hamamele^, DC. Dicoryphe, Pet. Th. Parrotia, Meyer. § 2. Fothergillea:, 
Hamamelis, L. Trichocladus, Pers. Bucklandia, R. Br. DC. 
Trilopus; Mitch. Dahlia, Thunb. Fothergilla, L. 
Order XXXII. CORNACE.^. The Dogwood Tribe. 
CAPRiFOLiACEiE § Comeae, Kunth. Nov. G, Amer. 3. 430. — CoRNEiE, DC. Prod. 4. 271. 
(1830) ; Martins Conspectus, No. 217. (1835). 
Essential Character. — Sepals 4, superior. Petals 4, oblong, broad at the base, 
inserted into the top of the calyx, regular, valvate in aestivation. Stamens 4 , inserted 
along with the petals and alternate with them ; anthers ovate-oblong, 2-celled. Style fili- 
form ; stigma simple. Drupe berried, crowned by the remains of a calyx, with a 2-celled 
nucleus. Seeds pendulous, solitary. Albumen fleshy ; radicle superior, shorter than the 
2 oblong cotyledons. — Trees or shrubs, seldom herbs. Leaves (except in one species) oppo- 
site, entire or toothed, with pinnate veins. Flowers capitate, umbellate, or corymbose, 
naked or with an involucre, occasionally by abortion dioecious. Flesh of the fruit eatable. 
DC. Prod. 4. 271. 
Affinities. These plants were formerly confounded with Caprifoliacese ; 
they are however beyond all doubt the representatives of an entirely distinct 
order, as their habit and general characters ought long since to have foretold. 
From CaprifoliacecE their polypetalous structure at once removes them. To 
Hamamelaceae they approach very nearly, but they differ in the valvate sestiva- 
tion of their corolla, &c. &c. In many respects Cornacese resemble Lorantha- 
cese from which they differ among other things in the stamens being alternate 
with the petals and not opposite to them. 
Geography. Found all over the temperate parts of Europe, Asia, and 
America. 
Properties. Comus mascula, and Benthamia yield a fruit which is eata- 
ble, but not worth eating. The bark of C. florida and sericea is said to rank 
among the best tonics of North America, nothing having been found in the 
United States that so effectually answers the purposes of Peruvian bark in in- 
termittent fevers. Barton, 1. 51. It is a remarkable fact that the young 
branches of Cornus florida stripped of their bark and rubbed with their ends 
against the teeth, render them extremely white. Ihid. From the bark of the 
fibrous roots the Indians extract a good scarlet colour. Ihid. 1. 120. 
GENERA. 
Cornus, Tourn. Aucuba, Kaempf. Votomita, Aubl. Mastixia, Blum. 
Benthamia, Lindl. Eubasis, Salisb. Glossoma, Schreb. Polyosma, Blum. 
Guillemina, Neck. 
Order XXXIII. LORANTHACE^. 
LoRANTHEiE, Juss. et Rich. Ann. Mus. 12. 292. (1808) ; DC. Prodr. 4. 277. (1830) ; 
M6moire (1830) ; Blume. FI. Jav. Viscoidea!:, Rich. Anal, du Fr. 33. (1818.) 
Essential Character. — Calyx superior, with 2 bracts at the base. Corolla with 
3- 4- or 8 petals, more or less united at the base, with a valvate aestivation. Stamens equal 
E 
