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tic trees or shrubs. Leaves opposite, without stipules. Hairs stellate. Flower heads axil- 
lary, in short racemes. 
Affinities. Allied to Urticaceae, from which they differ principally in 
their naked flowers enclosed within a calyx dike involucre, and in their oppo- 
site aromatic leaves ; also to Lauracese, from which they are known by the 
dehiscence of their anthers, the number of their ovaries, and their naked 
flowers ; and to Atherospermacese, which agree in sensible qualities, and in 
the number of their ovaries, but which differ in the dehiscence of the anthers, 
and in the erect position of the ovules. With Calycanthaceae they have also 
some relation. 
Geography. All natives of South America. 
Properties. All the parts of the bark and leaves exhale an aromatic 
odour, which is compared by travellers to that of Laurels or Myrtles. DC. 
Ruizia, the Boldu of Chili, produces a succulent fruit which is eaten by the 
natives. Both the wood and leaves are very fragrant ; the former makes a 
kind of charcoal, which is preferred beyond all other kinds by smiths. Bridges 
in litt. 
GENERA. 
Ambora, Juss. Ruizia, R. et Pav. Mithridatea, Comm. Mollinedia, R. et P. 
Tambourissa, Sonn. Boldea, Juss. Brongniartia, Bl. 
Monimia, Pet. Thou. Peumus, Pers. 
Order CXL. ATHEROSPERMACE.E. 
Atherosperme.®, R. Brown in Flinders, 553. (1814) ; Amottin Edinb. Encycl. 130. (1832). 
Essential Character. — Flowers unisexual. Involucre calyx-like, tubular, divided at 
the top into several segments, usually placed in two rows, the inner of which is partly 
petaloid ; to these are superadded some scales in the female involucres. Stamens in the 
males very numerous in the bottom of the involucre, with scales among them ; in the 
females fewer, and arising from the orifice of the involucre; anthers adnate, 2-celled, 
bursting with a valve which separates from the base to the apex. Ovaries several in each 
involucre, usually indefinite, each with a single erect ovule ; styles simple, arising either 
from the side or the base ; stigmas simple. Nuts terminated by the persistent styles 
become feathery, enclosed in the enlarged tube of the involucre. Seed solitary, erect ; 
embryo short, erect, at the base of soft, fleshy albumen ; radicle inferior. — Trees. Leaves 
opposite, without stipules. Flower-heads axillary, solitary. 
Affinities. The anthers of this order are the same as those of Lauracese 
and Berberaceae, from the latter of w^hich they differ entirely, but with the 
former of which they agree in their aromatic odour. The order is nearly 
related to Monimiaceae, with which it is even combined by Jussieu and Bart- 
ling ; but it diflers in the position of the o\mle, and in the structure of the 
anthers. 
Geography. Natives of New Holland and South America. 
Properties. Aromatic shrubs. 
GENERA. 
Atherosperma, Lab. Laurelia, Juss. Citrosma, R. et P. 
Pavonia, R. et P. 
Alliance IV. PODOSTEMALES. 
Essential Character. — Flowers solitary. Carpels 2, or 3, combined. Seeds very 
numerous and minute. Obscure water plants, either with minute leaves, or with the stem 
