liUTACEiE. 189 



ORDER LI. RUTACE^. 



Calycine sepals 3, 4, or 5. Petals rarely O, gene- 

 rally of the same number as the sepals. Disk glan- 

 dulose, fleshy. Stamens equal in number to the 

 sepals or double or triple. Style dividing into stig- 

 mata corresponding in number to the carpels. Car- 

 pels 1-5, one-celled, dehiscent, 2-valved, cocculose 

 internally from the endocarp changing into an elastic 

 coccule contained within the external integument. 

 Seeds fixed in an inverted position to the inner angle : 

 embryo straight, compressed ; radicle superior ; coty- 

 ledons leafy. 



Perennial herbaceous plants, shrubs or trees : almost all of 

 them with glandules dispersed through the different organs and 

 diffusing a strong odour. Leaves without stipules, alternate or 

 opposite, simple or compound. This Order is rather extensive, 

 comprehending nearly 300 species, natives of all countries, and 

 to be found in every situation. Those which are inhabitant^ of 

 northern latitudes, are in general herbaceous and endowed with 

 fetid properties. Sucli is the Rue tribe, the species of which 

 are said to be emmenagogue, anthelmintic, and sudorific. The 

 Bucku tribe, peculiar to the Cape of Good-Hope and Australasia, 

 are neat heath-like plants, with an aromatic odour, and have 

 been employed of late in urinary complaints. The Cusparia 

 tribe are principally natives of South America, and several of 

 them, such as the Angostura bark, have the reputation of being 

 possessed of febrifuge qualities. And lastly, the Prickly yellow 

 tribe, common to South America and the West Indies, have 

 been found to be acrid, stimulant, and tonic. 



I. Zaxthoxylum. Yellow-wood. 



Flowers hermaphrodite, or by abortion dioecious or 

 monoecious. Calyx 3-9-lobed, more frequently 4-5 

 partite. Petals equal in number and alternating with 

 the lobes of the calyx, rarely O. Stamens generally 

 equal in number and opposite to the lobes of the 

 calyx. Carpels connate at the base or free, by abor- 

 tion frequently reduced to a fewer number, so as to 

 be in some species solitary ; when mature 2-valved, 

 1-3-seeded : seed shining. 



