Menispermece .] 
THE COLONY OF VICTORIA. 
25 
the flower-bud. Calyx articulated with the peduncle, attenuated into a very short pedicellar base, cernuous; 
that of the male flower deeply 8-cleft, spreading; its exterior lobes 4-5 lines long, ovate or orbicular-ovate or 
lanceolate, either blunt or acute, outside grey-silky, inside glabrous and white, towards the margins mem¬ 
branous ; inner lobes about as long as but frequently narrower than the outer ones, or somewhat shorter, 
alternating with them, silky along the middle dorsal part, nearly petaloid; all veined. Stamens 8-20, rarely 
more, inserted to the densely silky-downy lower part of the calyx. Filaments thick, J-l line long, augmented 
at the very base with two almost free dimidiate-rhomboid or oblique-lanceolate or somewhat ovate appendages, 
about J line long, which are often cuspidate, sometimes fleshy, sometimes membranous, and are regarded 
by some botanists as staminodia, whilst part of these perhaps represent rudimentary ovaries, connate with 
the base of the stamens. Anthers quadrate-ovate, § line long, with blunt or retuse apex; valves 2, yellowish, 
ascendent. Calyx of female flower with a short turgid tube, which is outside densely silky-tomentose; its 
exterior lobes oblong-lanceolate, outside silky, inside smooth, inner ones narrow-lanceolate acuminate, all 
8-4 lines long. Staminodia lanceolate- or linear-subulate, numerous, 1-3 lines long, long persistent, except 
the inner side of the apex silky, exserted after the lapse of the calyx lobes. Cup-shaped indurated portion of 
the fruit-calyx 3-4 lines long, 5-6 lines broad, inside densely clothed with copious soft brittle more or less 
intricate grey-brown hair, which become very perceptible after the carpels are ejected, extending conspi¬ 
cuously beyond the orifice of the calyx. Carpels narrow ovate- or oblong-conical, 1-1J line long, passing 
gTadually into the style, which is setaceous, 4-5 lines long, simple or very rarely bifid and as well as the 
carpels densely villous with exceedingly soft hair, of which the upper ones are gradually shortened. 
The Native Sassafras must be regarded as one of the finest and most useful trees of this part of 
Australia. Its shady crown of horizontal foliage contrasts singularly with the pendulous foliage of the 
Eucalypti, which characterizes generally the tree vegetation of this country. The powerful tonic property of 
its bark render the tree of high medicinal value, whilst its wood is less subject to bursting than most of the 
other indigenous timber; when polished it much resembles walnut-wood. The flowers are fragrant; and the 
aromatic scent, which pervades all other parts, reminds of that of nutmeg, inducing Labillardi£re to apply to 
the tree its specific name. Leaves and bark are used in infusion and are long retaining their aroma. 
Order MENISPERMEiE. 
Juss. Gen. 284. 
Elowers dioecious, rarely monoecious or polygamous or hermaphrodite. Sepals 
2-12, rarely 1, free, seldom connate, vaivate or imbricate rarely quincuncial in aesti¬ 
vation, deciduous. Petals usually equal in number to the sepals, distinct or some¬ 
times united, deciduous, not rarely missing. Stamens distinct, or wholly or partially 
monadelphous, equal in number and opposite to the petals, or in a multiplied number 
of the latter, rarely fewer than the petals. Anthers 1-2- or 4-celled, extrorse or 
introrse, vertical or horizontal, opening lengthwise or transversely. Style simple or 
wanting. Stigma undivided or two - or three-cleft or jagged. Ovaries 1-12, but usually 
3, distinct or rarely united, one-celled or rarely divided into additional lateral cells, 
the middle one only fertile. Ovule 1, homotropal or campylotropal. Drupes baccate, 
verticiUate or solitary, oblique. Endocarp bony, compressed, kidney- or horseshoe¬ 
shaped, rarely almost straight, often at its broad back tuberculate. Embryo around 
the condyle more or less curved . Albumen surrounding the embryo , or wa/nting . 
Radicle superior. 
