BIXINK^:. 



41 



ORDER XIV. BIXINE^. 



Cdycine sepals 4-7, either distinct or cohering at 

 the base, with the aestivation imbricated. Petals 5, 

 or none. Stamens indefinite, distinct, inserted on 

 the circumference of a hypogynous annular disk. 

 Ovary superior, sessile, 1 -celled : style 1, undivided 

 or 2-4-fid. Fruit capsular or berried, 1 -celled, many- 

 seeded. Seeds attached to parietal placentae, enve- 

 loped in pulp : embryo erect. 



The Arnotta tribe is composed of trees or shrubs ; with 

 leaves simple, alternate, and entire ; stipules deciduous; pedun- 

 cles axillary, 1-x -flowered, and bracteolated. They are all 

 natives of the hotter parts of America, or of the Mauritius. 

 BiXA, is the only genus, possessing any remarkable properties. 



I. BixA. Arnotta. 



Calycine sepals 5, orbiculate, deciduous. Petals 

 5, obovate. Stamens co , hypogynous, free : anthers 

 bilocular. Ovary one-celled : style 1, long, generally 

 ligulato-compressed at the apex. Capsule one-celled, 

 two-valved ; valves externally setoso-hispid ; internally 

 with a linear placenta in the centre. Seeds 8-10 to 

 each placenta, covered with a coloured farinaceous 



Low trees, indigenous to the warmer regions of America. 

 — Bixa is the name of the common species, on that continent. 



1 . Bixa orellana. Heart-leaved Arnotta. 

 Leaves on both sides glabrous. 



Shane, Hist. II. 52. t. 181. f. '2.—Jacq. Hort. Sch. IV. t. 483. 

 — Meyer, PrimititB Fl. Esseq. 202. 



HAB Banks of rivers. 



FL. Autumn. 



A low tree, handsome in its port, with large cordate acumin- 

 ate glabrous leaves. Flowers rather large, showy, rose-coloured, 



* Albumen flesliy or very thin: enilnyo iucludud, curved or nearly straight : 

 cotyledons fleshy i radicle turned to the hilum Gccrtn. de Fruct. I. t. 61. 



