CAPPARIDEJ2. 15 



phanus lanceolatus, Macf. ! (non W.J. — This is probably the species which Asa Gray dis- 

 tinguishes from C. americana, Nutt., in the Southern United States. Richard had proposed 

 to reduce both American species to the European C. marilima, but I agree with Asa Gray in 

 keeping them distinct by the proportion and shape of the upper fruit-joint : in C. marilima, 

 L., it is shorter, compressed, and broader than the lower one ; in C. americana, Nutt., it is 

 ovate, and equals the lower one in length. The seed of the upper joint shows obliquely ac- 

 eumbent cotyledons in C. eequalis, just as Asa Gray has figured them in his Genera (1. t. 74); 

 in C. maritima I find them not oblique, but this is probably subject to variation.— Hab. Ja- 

 maica!, all collectors; S. Vincent!, Guild.; Turk Islands!, Hjalmarson, on sandy seashores; 

 [Cuba, Guadeloupe], 



XIII. CAPPAKIDE,E. 



Stamens indefinite, 6 (-4), inserted below the ovary. Pistil paracarpous : ovary usually 

 stalked. Embryo exalbuminous. 



This order resembles Cruciferce in an acrid, antiscorbutic sap, and some Capparidea are 

 used in medicine on that account. A fixed oil is equally contained in their embryo. Mo- 

 ringa, a genus anomalous merely by the number of flower-organs, partakes of these prin- 

 ciples ; the oil of its seeds, which are called Ben-nuts, is drastic. The berry of Cratava 

 Tapia is eatable, though not pleasant. 



Tribe I. CLEOMEJZ. — Fruit capsular, dehiscent. 



1. CXEOME, L., R. Br. 



(Gynandropsis, DC. Polanisia, Stcf.) 



Sepals and petals 4. Stamens 6 (-4^, indefinite. Capsule silique-shaped, bivalved : valves 

 separating from the intervalvular parietal placenta (the replum). — Herbs ; leaves usually 

 palmatisect ; racemes terminal. — All the West Indian species are annuals. 



Sect. 1. Gymnogonia. — Stamens 6, inserted upon the filiform gynophore. 

 Mstivation of the corolla open. 



1. C. pentaphylla, L. Segments of leaves 5-3 (-7), obovate-lanceolate or elliptical- 

 lanceolate ; petals obovate, ,/bar times the length of the calyx ; stamens inserted upon the 

 middle of the gynophore. — Desc. Fl. 7- t. 509; Bot. Mag. t. 1681. — Gynandropsis, DC. 

 G. tripbylla, DC. (quoad PL Carib.). G. palmipes, DC. — The leaf-segments vary in their 

 form and in their number ; petals whitish, equalling the inferior joint of the gynophore ; 

 capsule linear, 2"-3" long, equalling or exceeding the gynophore. — Hab. Jamaica !, Dist., 

 Al., March, common ; Bahamas !, Swains. ; S. Kitts !, Elsey; S. Vincent !, Guild.; Granada ; 

 [all tropical countries ; naturalized in the warmer parts of both temperate zones]. There are 

 linguistic reasons for believing it to have emigrated from the Old World. 



Sect. 2. Gynandropsis. — Stamens 6, inserted upon the filiform gynophore. 

 Mstivation of the corolla imbricative. 



2. C. speciosa, Kth. Segments of leaves 7-5, lanceolate ; petals spathulate, about 10 

 times the length of the calyx ; stamens inserted above the base of the gynophore, its upper 

 joint much exceeding the corolla, and somewhat exceeded by the filaments. — Kth. Nov. Gen. 

 5. t. 436. — Gynandropsis, DC. — The leaf-segments are much longer than in the preceding, 

 and the corolla larger and rosy. — Hab. Jamaica !, lib. Benth. ; [Guadeloupe !], probably in- 

 troduced from the Continent; [Mexico ! to Ecuador!]. 



Sect. 3. Pedicellaria. — Stamens 6, inserted upon a conical disc, below 

 the filiform gynophore or the ovary. 

 The section Siliquaria, restricted by R. Brown to the Old World, differs from this section 

 by wanting the conical disc. 



3. O. pungens, W. Pubescent, often glandular ; stipules prickly ; segments of leaves 

 7-5, lanceolate ; bracts cordate or ovate ; stamens long, exserted from the whitish corolla ; 

 ovary much shorter than the gynophore, but capsule finally almost double the length of it, or 

 more. — Bot. Mag. t. 1640. — C. heptaphylla, Sw. — A commfm and very variable weed; the 

 variability affects chiefly the down, the shape of the bracts, and the number and form of the 



