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XX. ATHEROSPERME^. 



AtherospermEjE, 7?. Brown in Flinders, 553. (1814.) 



Diagnosis. Apetalous aromatic dicotyledons, with definite erect ovula, 

 and anthers bursting by recurved valves. 

 Anomalies. 



Essential Character Flowers unisexual or hermaphrodite. Calyx tubular, 



divided at the top into several segments, usually placed in two rows, the inner of which 

 is partly petaloid ; to these are superadded some scales in the female and hermaphrodite 

 flowers. Stamens in the males very numerous in the bottom of the calyx, with scales 

 among them ; in the hermaphrodites fewer, and arising from the orifice of the calyx ; 

 anthers adnate, 2-celled, bursting with a valve which separates from the base to the apex. 

 Ovaria more than one, usually indefinite, each with a single erect ovulum ; styles simple, 

 arising either from the side or the base ; stigmas simple. Nuts terminated by the persistent 

 styles become feathery, enclosed in the enlarged tube of the calyx. Seed solitary, erect ; 

 embryo short, erect, at the base of soft, fleshy albumen ; radicle inferior. — Trees. Leaves 

 opposite, without stipulfe. Flowers axillary, solitary. 



Affinities. The anthers of this order are the same as those of Laii- 

 rinese and Berberideae, from the latter of which they differ entirely, but with 

 the former of which they agree in their aromatic odour. The order is nearly 

 related to Monimiese, with which it is even combined by Jussieu; but it differs 

 in the position of the ovula, and in the structure of the anthers. 



GEOGRAniY. Natives of New Holland and South America. Only two 

 genera are known. 



Properties. Aromatic shrubs. 



Examples. Favonia, Atherosperma. 



XXL LAURINEtE. The Cinnamon Tribe. 



Lauhi, Juss.Gen.80. (1780); Laurin^, Vent. Tail. (1709); R. Brown Prodr. 



401. (1810). 



Diagnosis. Apetalous aromatic dicotyledons, with definite suspended 

 ovules, and anthers bursting by recurved valves. 



Anomalies. Cassytha is aphyllous and parasitical. 



EssENTiAi, Character Calyx 4-C-cleft, with imbricated aestivation, the limb 



sometimes obsolete. Stamens definite, perigynous, opposite the segments of the calyx, and 

 usually twice as numerous ; the 3 innermost, which are opposite the 3 inner segments of the 

 calyx, sterile or deficient ; the 6 outermost scarcely ever abortive ; anthers adnate, 2-4-celled ; 

 the cells bursting by a longitudinal persistent valve from the base to the apex ; the outer 

 anthers valved inwards, the inner valved outwards. Glands usually present at the base of 

 the inner filaments. Ovarium single, superior, with a single pendulous ovulum ; style 

 simple ; stigma obtuse. Fruit baccate or drupaceous, naked or covered. Seed without 

 albumen ; embryo inverted ; cotyledons large, plano-convex, peltate near the base ! ; radicle 



very short, included, superior; plumula conspicuous, 2-leaved Trees, often of great size. 



Leaves without sti pulse, alternate, seldom opposite, entire or very rarely lobed. Inflorescence 

 panicled or umbelled. Sometimes leafless twining under-shrubs or parasitical herbs, with 

 spiked flowers, each having 3 bracteae. R. Br. 



Affinities. Distinguished from all apetalous dicotyledons, except 

 Atherospermese, by the peculiar dehiscence of their anthers, and divided from 

 that order by the ovulum being pendulous, not erect. In sensible qualities 

 they resemble Myristicese, which are at once known by their unisexual flow- 

 ers and columnar stamens. The genus Cassytha, a parasitical leafless plant, 



