Order Cxxix
LAURINEÆ.
Noble trees or shrubs with handsome foliage and inconspicuous flowers. They are chiefly natives of hot countries, where they constitute some of the most valuable of the productions known under the name of spice. By botanists they are readily recognized by the singular circumstance of their anthers having each four cells, the valves of which are hinged as it were to the upper edge of each cell, and do not open longitudinally like those of most other plants. It is well known that the cinnamon is the produce of the Laúrus cinnamómum, and that its properties are eminently aromatic, warm, and stomachic. The same peculiarities, but in a less degree, exist also in Laúrus cássia, L. malabáthrica, and L. culilában, which are all occasionally substituted for true cinnamon; they are found in the leaves of Laúrus parvifólia, in the bark of the species which produces the Pichurim bean; in that of L. cupuláris, which is the Isle of France cinnamon; of L. quíxos, which yields the Peruvian cinnamon; in L. Benzoin, which was used as spice in the United States during the American war; and finally, in the common bay tree of our plantations. Laúrus sassafras yields the sassafras chips of the shops, but its bark is much more powerful. The fruit of many Laurineæ are extremely aromatic; that of Laúrus Pérsea is an agreeable West Indian fruit, called the alligator pear. Camphor is the produce of Laúrus camphora, and of another or two; this substance is found indeed in small quantities in the roots of almost all the order; one of the cinnamons is even named Capuru Carundu, which signifies camphorated cinnamon. 934 Laúrus W. 936 Cassýtha W. 1942 Hernándia W.
ORDER CXXX.
MYRISTICEÆ. 1077 Agathophyllum W.
Closely allied to the last, especially in sensible properties. The arillus of Myrística is the mace of the shops, and its nut, the famous nutmeg. It is well known that this abounds with oil; in Viróla sebífera the oily secretion is so copious, that it is readily separated by immersion in boiling water under the form of fat. 2120 Myrística W.
ORDER CXXXI.
PROTEACEÆ.
Favorite shrubs with gardeners, both on account of the neatness of their foliage and the beauty of their flowers. With very few exceptions, they are confined to the southern promontory of Africa, and to New Holland, where they adorn large tracts of country. They are shrubby or arborescent plants with an arid habit. The leaves are simple, evergreen, narrow, entire or serrated. The flowers generally grow in clusters, and are green, yellow, or red, sometimes in true Proteas surrounded by colored bracteæ with dark hairy margins. Their stamens are four, with distinct anthers, which rarely adhere together. The pollen is triangular; the stigma undivided and usually oblique. Their fruit is of various kinds, either a solitary nut or a sort of cone consisting of many nuts immersed among the indurated remains of abortive flowers. Of their properties, little is known. Some of the Rhópalas afford tolerable timber; the bark of Prótea speciósa and grandiflóra is astringent and useful in diarrheas. The seeds of Embóthrium tinctórium yield a powder which is employed for dying pink. The Proteas of the Cape, and the Banksias and Dryándras of New Holland, are the finest plants of the order. 229 Petróphila R. Br. 230 Isopógon R. Br. 231 Prótea R. Br. 232 Leucospermum R. Br. 052 Aúlax R. Br. 2053 Leucadendron R. Br. 233 Mimétes R. Br. 234 Serrúria R. Br. 235 Nivénia R. Br. 236 Sorocéphalus R. Br. 237 Spatálla R. Br. 238 Persoónia R. Br. 239 Grevillea R. Br. 240 Hákea R. Br. 241 Stenocarpus R. Br. 242 Lambértia R. Br. 243 Xylomélum R. Br. 244 Telopéa R. Br. 245 Lomátia R. Br. 246 Rhópala R. Br. 247 Bánksia R. Br. 248 Dryándra R. Br. 2142 Brabéjum W.
NATURAL ARRANGEMENT.