Mntidesma. dioecia pentandria. 7G9 



ed and sharp. Leaves alternate, unequally pinnate, from 

 two to four inches long-. Leaflets from three to thirteen, five 

 or seven most common, opposite, sessile, lanceolate, in 

 young- plants creiiulate, pretty smooth on both sides, with a 

 few pellucid points containing a fragrant juice. Petioles 

 winged. Stipules none. Male. Racemes axillary, often 

 compound, shorter than the leaves. Flowers minute, pale 

 yellow. Calyx small, one-leaved, with from six to eight 

 acute divisions. Corol none. Filaments six, seven, eight, 

 much longer than the calyx. Anthers twin. Pistillum or 

 hemispheric gland, with two or three elevations in the centre, 

 like so many stigmas. Female. Racemes as in the male. 

 Flowers very minute, greenish yellow. Calyx as in the male. 

 Corol none. Stamens none. Germs superior, as far as five, 

 three or four are most common, one-celled, containmg two 

 ovula, attached to the top of the inner angle of the cell. 

 Styles single, shorter than the germs, recurved. Stigmas 

 single. Capsules, in general one, two, or three come to matu- 

 rity, roundish, reniform, or ovate, of the size of a small pea 

 when recent, when dry wrinkled, and much smaller, short- 

 pedicelied, one-celled, two-valved, opening- round the apex. 

 Seeds solitary, conform to the capsule, attached to the middle 

 of the margins of the capsule, on one side. Integuments two ; 

 the exterior one of a shining black, thick, porous, and brit- 

 tle ; the inner one thinner and brown. Perisperm conform to 

 the seed, fleshy. Embryo inverse, nearly as large as the pe- 

 risperm. Cotyledons round-cordate, three-nerved. Radicle 

 superior, oblong. 



Every part of the plant possesses a peculiar aromatic pun- 

 gency, which I cannot well compare to any smell, or taste 

 I am acquainted with. The seeds are used medicinally by 

 the natives of the countries where the plants grow. 



ANTIDESMA. Sckreb. gen. N. 1518. 

 Male. Calyx five-leaved. Corol none. Anthers twin. 



VOL. HI. * ^ 



