Part 107. The laurel family (Lauraceae) consists also of woody plants with oil reservoirs similar to those of the magnolia family. This aromatic oil gives to sassafras (Sassafras officinale) and to cinnamon and camphor (Cinnamomum), as we have seen, their chief economic value. Between these and our examples of the magnolia and crowfoot families may also be found many other similarities, either in habit, form of leaves, or floral structure.

The morphology of the gyncecium in the laurel family is somewhat doubtful. Apparently there is only a single carpel, much as in the baneberry, but in sassafras the three-lobed stigma may be evidence of three carpels which coalesce so completely as to form a one-celled, one-styled pistil. A further peculiarity of sassafras is that the flowers are all imperfect and that the two kinds are always on distinct plants. The term dioecious 1 is applied to this condition.

1 Di-oe'ci-ous - Gr. dis, two; oikos, household; symbolized by ♂: ♀.

A striking feature found throughout the family is the dehiscence of the anthers by uplifted valves. This is indicated in the formulas by FA". Another general peculiarity is that the concave torus often becomes fleshy and cup-like in fruit-a condition indicated by TT!The sign ~ meaning "or otherwise" when there are noteworthy exceptions, is also introduced in the formulas of this family, and ? is used to indicate doubt.

See pages 406, 407 for formulas of Sassafras and Cinnamomum and, derived from them (neglecting exceptions) a typical formula for the family.

Woody plants with minute reservoirs of oil, and regular flowers more or less like those of the crowfoot family but having the perianth and androecium mostly perigynous and the anthers always dehiscing by uplifted valves, constitute the chief members of the family.