Illustrations of the principal natural orders of the vegetable kingdom / prepared for the Science and Art Department of the Council of Education by Professor Oliver ; the plates by W.H. Fitch.

  • Oliver, Daniel, 1830-1916.
Date:
1874
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Illustrations of the principal natural orders of the vegetable kingdom / prepared for the Science and Art Department of the Council of Education by Professor Oliver ; the plates by W.H. Fitch. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    Leaves usually compound in Zanthoxyleae and Aurantieae. In Orange {Citrus Aurantium) and its allies reduced to a single leaflet, the blade of which is articulated at the base to a winged petiole; almost invariably dotted with translucent glands containing a volatile oil. Stamens free, or in Orange polyadelphous. Ovary lobed as in Rue (Ruta), the lobes ultimately separating as cocci, or entire as in Orange. Seeds with or without albumen ; in Orange exalbuminous, and usually containing two or more embryos distorted from mutual pressure. USES, &c.—The species of principal economic value belong to the genus Citrus, which includes the Orange ((7. Aurantium), Lemon {G. Limonum), Citron {G. medica), Lime {G. Limetta), the Mandarin or Tangerine Orano-es (G. nohilis), and their allies. The origin of these forms, which have been cultivated from a remote period throu^-hout the Tropics, is obscure. They have probably all been derived from one or two species native in Tropical Asia or the Indian Archipelago. The oranges imported into Britain are chiefly grown in the Island of St. Michael’s in the Azores, and in the south of Europe. The small fruits of a Chinese and Japanese Citrus are imported as a confection in sugar. The fruit of the Wampee {Cookia 'punctata) is similarly prepared in India and China. Oil of Neroli and Bergamot are distilled from the flowers and rind of the fruit of a Citrus. The dry-fruited Rutaceae are generally aromatic and pungent ; many of them are employed in their respective countries medicinally, and the seeds of a few species as a condiment ; the Cape Diosmeae more particularly are often strongly and disagreeably scented. American species of the Tribe Cusparieae contain a bitter alkaloid employed, as in Angostura bark {Galipea), as a febrifuge. Numerous Australian and Cape species are cultivated in greenhouses, more especially of the genera Boronia Correa, Eristemon, and Barosma; also in our stoves, the Tropical American genus Erythrochiton. Common Rue (Ruta graveolens), a rustic medicine formerly used as a prophylactic against plague, and Fraxinella (Dictamnus) are in every garden. Nearly allied to Rutaceae is the tropical Natural Order SlMARUBE^, which differs in having eglandular leaves, and the stamens frequently provided with an adherent scale. The species are almost invariably characterised by extreme bitterness, as the Bitterwoods, used as popular tonic medicines, derived from Tropical American speaies of Ficrcena and Qucossia.