40 



Essential Character Calyd' consisting of 5 nearly equal divisions (deciduous, 



Dec), the tube lined with a fleshy disk ; eBstivation slightly imbricated. Corolla of 5 nearly 

 equal petals, the uppermost of which is ascending. Stamens 10, arising from the top of the 

 tube of the calyx ; 5 opposite the sepals, sometimes sterile ; filaments slightly petaloid, cal- 

 lous and haiiy at the base; anthers simple, 1 -celled, with a thick convex connectivum. 

 Ovarium stipitate, superior, 1 -celled, with 3 parietal placentce ; sti/le filiform, terminal, not 

 obliquely inserted ; stigma simple. Fruit a long pod-like capsule, with 3 valves, and only 

 1 cell ; the valves bearing the seeds along their middle. Seeds numerous, half buried in the 

 fungous substance of the valves, sometimes winged ; embryo without albumen ; radicle 

 straight, very small ; cotyledons fleshy, plano-convex. — Trees. Leaves pinnate, with an 

 odd one. Flotcers in panicles. 



Affinities. Confounded with Leguminosse, until separated by the 

 authority of Mr. Brown, who does not, however, point out the real affinities 

 of the order. M. DecandoUe, who did not overlook its anomalous structure 

 as a Leguminous plant, accounted for the compound nature of its fruit upon 

 the supposition, that although unity of carpellum is the normal structure 

 of Leguminosse, yet the presence of more ovaria than one, in a few instances 

 in that order, explained the constantly trilocular state of that of Moringa. 

 To this, however, there are numerous and grave oljjections, which cannot 

 fail to strike every botanist. > To me it appears very near Bignoniaceae, not- 

 withstanding its polypetalous corolla, agreeing with that order in its com- 

 pound fruit, winged seeds, irregular flowers, and compound leaves. It 

 may be also compared with Malvaceae, on account of its nearly valvate 

 sepals, or rather with Buttneriacea; on the same account, and because of 

 its sterile stamens alternating with the fertile ones ; its habit is, however, 

 against the approximation, and it is probable that these coincidences indicate 

 analogy rather than affinity. 



Geography. Natives of the East Indies and Arabia. 



Properties. The root of the Hyperauthera Moringa has a pungent 

 odour, with a warm, biting, and somewhat aromatic taste ; it is used as 

 a stimulant in paralytic affections and intermittent fever ; it is also employed 

 as a rubefacient. Ainslie, 1. 175. The nuts (seeds) of this plant, called by 

 the French pois qumiques and chicot, have been used in venereal affec- 

 tions. Ibid, 



Example. Moringa. 



XXIX. TILIACEiE. The Linden Tribe. 



TiLiACEiE, Juss. Gen. 290. (1789) in part. ; Kunth. Malv. Diss. p. 14. (1822); Dec. Prodr. 

 1. 50.3. (1824); Lindl. Coll. p. 54. (1829.) 



Diagnosis. Polypetalous dicotyledons, with hypogynous distinct sta- 

 mens, concrete carpella, an ovarium with several cells, and the placentae 

 in the axis, a calyx with valvate aestivation, anthers bursting longitudinally, 

 and hypogynous glands between the petals and ovarium. 



Anomalies. Petals sometimes absent. Diplophractum is remarkable 

 for having an extremely anonuilous fruit, with several spurious cells, and 

 with the placentae apparently in the circumference instead of the axis. 

 Apeiba has sometimes as many as 24 cells in the fruit. Mr. Brown notices 

 the existence of an African genus of this order (Christiana, Dec), remark- 

 able in having a calyx of 3 lobes, while its corolla consists of 5 petals ; the 

 fruit composed of 5 single-seeded capsules, connected only at the base. 

 Cong. 428. 



