22 GARDNER ON MOURIRIA, &c. 
MOURIRIACE&. ` 
Calyx bibracteolate at the base; tube adhering to the ova- 
rium; limb urceolate, 5-toothed. Petals 5, broad at the base, 
inserted into the summit of the tube of the calyx, and alternat- 
ing with its segments, contorted in estivation. Stamens 10, 
subunequal, inserted immediately below the petals :—/ilaments 
curved downwards in sestivation :—anthers oblong-triangular, 
infractuose at the base, opening laterally at the apex by two 
slits. Ovarium subglobose, 5-celled, each cell containing one 
ovule. Style filiform. Stigmacapitate. Fruita subglobose berry, 
crowned by the persistent limb of the calyx, 1 rarely 2-celled, 
cells 1-seeded. Embryo erect, exalbuminous. Cotyledons large, 
plano-convex. Radicle inferior, straight. Plumule inconspicu- 
ous.— Trees or shrubs of America, glabrous; branches nodose. 
Leaves opposite, exstipulate, entire, coriaceous, with elevated 
dots, penninerved, and, in one species, at least, having the ven 
arcuate forming a distinct marginal vein. Flowers axillary, 
pedunculate, white, yellow, or rose coloured. 
The nearest affinity of this small tribe of plants is evidently 
with Myrtacee and Melastomacea, but it cannot be placed in — 
either of these families without very materially weakening 
their characters. With Myrtacee it agrees in habit, in the 
nature of its leaves, which have elevated dots, and, in one 
instance, marginal veins, and somewhat in the structure of a 
its fruit, which, however, in Myrtacee@ is very variable. It - 
differs essentially from this Order in the contorted, not quin- _ 
cuncial, zestivation of the petals, and in the dehiscence of the E 
anthers. With Melastomacee it corresponds i in the estivation o£ * 
the petals and filaments, and in the dehiscence of the anthers, - : 
which, however, is not by pores but by slits; but is abundantly — 
distinct from that order in the calyx having a perfect union _ 
with the ovarium, in its definite ovules, and in the leaves _ 
being destitute of parallel veins, and having elevated dots. . 
From Memecylee it is distinguished by its erect, not pendu- 
lous, embryo, by its fleshy plano-convex, not foliaceous con- 
voluted, cotyledons, and by its inferior, not superior radicle. - 
According to — (Introd. Nat. Syst. ed. 2. p. 41, — 
