MALPIGIIIACE.E. Hf) 



iiating witli the teeth of the calyx, valvular, each with a bifid 

 (?) plaited scale at the base. Stamens 10, rather longer than 

 the petals, slightly monadelphous at the base. Ovary globular, 

 sub-3-gonal : styles 3, very short : stigmata capitate. Drupe 

 oblong, obsoletely 3-gonal, scarlet, resembling the fruit of the 

 Barberry, 1-seeded: seed costate, especially on one side. 



This shrubby tree ripens its fruit in May, Avhen, from its 

 numerous bright scarlet berries, it readily attracts notice. 



ORDER XXXIX. MALPIGHIACE^. 



Calycine sepals 5, slightly combined, persistent. 

 Petals 5, alternate with the lobes of the calyx, inserted 

 on a hypogynous disk, clawed. Stamens 10, alter- 

 nate with the petals. Ovary 1, generally 3-lobed, 

 formed of 3 carpels, more or less combined : styles 3, 

 distinct or combined into 1. Fruit dry or berried, 

 3-celled or 3-lobed ; cells 1-seeded. Seeds pendu- 

 lous, without albumen : embryo more or less curved 

 or straight : radicle short : lobes leafy or thickish. 



Shrubs or trees. Leaves opposite, scarcely ever alternate, 

 without dots, generally furnished with stipules. Flowers race- 

 mose or corymbose. Pedicels articulated about the middle, 

 with a pair of minute bracteas. Almost exclusively natives of 

 intertropical America. The fruits of a few of the species are 

 edible. The bark of Malpighia Moureila, is, according to 

 Aublet, employed in Cayenne as a substitute for bark. With 

 these exceptions, no remarkable properties can be assigned to 

 any of the Tribe. 



I. Malpighia. 



Calyx 5-partite, furnished externally at the base 

 with 8-10 glandules. Petals clawed. Stamens with 

 filaments shortly monadelphous at the base. Styles 

 3, distinct. Drupe containing 3 one-seeded stones. 



Shrubs. Peduncles axillary, either one-flowered or bearing 

 umbellated pedicels. — Named, by Plumier, in honour of Mar- 

 cello Malpighi, Professor of Medicine at Bologna, author of the 

 Anatomia Plantarum, published in 1765 and 1769. 



VOL. I. L I 



