AV0°u)r-8p7hgfrm-}  Botanical  Characters  of  Officinal  Plants.  535 
unculacece  are  connected  with  Rutaceae  through  the  genus  Crossosoma, 
which  possesses  the  bitterness  of  Quassia  ;  lastly,  the  Zygophyllacete, 
with  aromatic,  astringent  leaves,  are  closely  allied  to  the  Geraniacea. 
The  Berberidacea,  similarly  examined,  should  be  placed  between  the 
Menispermaceae,  Papaveraceae  and  Ranunculaceae.  The  botanic  rela- 
tion between  Menispermacea  and  Berberidaceae  is  very  close,  and  in  both 
the  same  active  principle,  berberina,  predominates.  The  tie  connect- 
ing the  Berberidaceae  with  the  Papaveracea  is,  for  the  former,  Podo- 
phyllum and  Jeffersonia,  and  for  the  latter  Sanguinaria;  these  genera 
nourish,  too,  on  their  colored,  acrid  and  emetic  sap.  The  Ranunculacea 
are  connected  with  the  Berberidaceae  by  containing  Berberin  in 
common. 
The  Crucifertz,  Capparidacea  and  Resedacea,  botanically  allied,  con- 
tain in  various  quantities  the  same  active  substances  (acrid  sulphuretted 
oils).  The  Polygalacece^  Caryophyllacea:  and  Violaceee  are  related  by  their 
characters  as  well  as  by  the  saponin  and  analogous  substances  (poly- 
gallic  acid,  violin). 
We  may  mention  yet  that  the  Lequimosa  and  Rosacea-  are  rich  in 
gum  and  tannin  ;  the  Juglandacea,  Balsaminacece  and  Myricacea,  in  aro- 
matic oleo-resins;  the  Myristicacea,  Monimiacece  and  Lauracece,  all  rich 
in  aromatic  oils. 
Sometimes  the  botanical  similarity  is  not  prominent  enough  to  sup- 
port that  of  the  chemical  constitution.  For  instance,  the  Ranunculaceae 
and  Alhmacecz  contain  an  acrid,  volatile  body,  which  is  dissipated  by 
drying,  but  whose  chemical  nature  is  scarcely  known.  Though  both 
families  are  placed  far  apart  in  our  systems,  they  show  certain  analogies 
which  have  been  recognized  by  Andanson  and  A.  L.  Jussieu  already. 
Baillon  says  in  reference  to  this,  ct  Certain  Alismaceae  are  only  to  be 
distinguished  from  certain  water  ranunculi  by  the  number  of  cotyledons 
contained  in  their  embryo." 
Finally,  there  exists,  according  to  Claus,  a  similarity  in  the  structure 
and  composition  between  the  lower  plants  and  the  inferior  animals. 
Cellulose  is  found  in  the  cloak  of  the  lower  molluscs  (Ascidia) ;  Chloro- 
phyll in  several  animals  (Stentor,  Hydra,  Bonellia).  Cholesterin  and 
other  characteristic  constituents  of  the  nerve-substance  have  been  found 
in  the  organs  of  Leguminosae.  This  at  first  glance  appears  strange, 
but  it  must  not  be  forgotten  that  the  respective  organs  perform  a  func- 
tion similar  to  the  animal  organs. 
