* 
166 “ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE BOTANY OF [ Celastrinee. 
M. De Candolle having considered all the floral envelopes as calyx, Professor 
Lindley remarks, ‘‘ I do not see upon what principle, either of ‘structure or analogy ;” 
and the inner row of sepals, narrower than the outer, appear to all intents to be petals as 
much as the others are sepals, as all are modifications of the same substance. In the 
Himalayan species—which is polygamous, if not dizecious—there are in the male 
flowers five sepals and ten stamens, with the rudiments of the five pistils; in the female 
flower there are five sepals, alternating with an inner row of five narrow petals, which 
again alternate with five imperfect stamens, the whole surrounding five well-developed 
pistils. | 
The pseudo-berry, or fruit formed by the junction of the several pistils, is frequently 
eaten in the hills; though that of the European species is considered poisonous, when 
taken in any quantity. It is related that several soldiers of the French army in Cata- 
lonia were affected by eating them: fifteen became stupified and three died. (v. Lindley 
and Fée.) C.myrtifolia, rich in tannin, is used in Europe by dyers for staining black ; 
and C.ruscifolia, inChili. The stems and leayes of the former are also considered 
pernicious; those of C. myrtifolia have unfortunately in France been employed to adul- 
terate senna-leaves, and have produced fatal consequences, where these have been. 
prescribed. (v. Fée.) 
B. CALYCIFLORZ.. 
As the foregoing families belong to M. De Candolle’s area sub-class of Thalamifiore, 
so do the following to his Calyciflore : 
54, CELASTRINEZ. 
This order, separated from Rhamnee, with which it was formerly united, may be 
readily distinguished by its alternate stamens, imbricate calyx, and hypogynous disk. 
It is related to Euphorbiacee; hence, in unexamined herbaria, plants of the one order 
are apt to be referred to the other. By M. Brongniart it is considered to be allied to 
Malpighiacee, through Hippocrateacee. 
In Celastrinee, M. De Candolle has included the In1c1ne# of M. Brongniart, and the 
SraruyLeace of Dr. Lindley; the latter distinguished by their opposite and pinnate 
stipulate leaves, and indicating an affinity between Celastrinee and Sapindacee. Of 
these, the species of Staphylea are single species distributed in the south of Europe, in 
North America, and Peru; one species has also been found in Japan and in the Hima- 
layas. The latter, the S. Emodi of Dr.Wallich, was procured by him from Srinuggur ; 
I have found it on Urukta, about 7,000 feet of elevation, also near Burkote, and have had 
it brought me from near Peer Punjal. Zwrpinia, of which the original species is a native 
of St. Domingo and the mountains of Mexico, has been ascertained to be identical with 
_the Dalrymplea of Dr. Roxburgh, of which the original species, D. now 7. pomifera, was : 
found in Silhet, and the second, D. Nepalensis, in Nepal, as wellas in the Peninsula. A 
species of this genus has also, as I learnt from Mr. Arnott, been obtained from near 
Canton, 
