41 



Essential Character — Sepals 4 or 5, with a valvular astivation, usually with 

 no involucrum. Petals 4 or 6, entire, usually with a little pit at their hase; very seldom 

 wanting; most commonly the size of the sepals. Stamens generally indefinite, hypogynous, 

 distinct ; anthers 2-celled, dehiscing longitudinally; in Sparmannia the outer stamens are 

 barren. Disk formed of glands, equal in number to the petals, at the base of which they 

 are placed, adhering to the stalk of the ovarium. Ovarium single, composed of from 4 to 

 10 carpella ; sli/le one ; stigmata as many as the carpella. Frnit dry, of several cells. Seeds 



numerous; embryo erect in the axis of fleshy albumen, with flat foliaceous cotyledons 



Trees or shrubs, very seldom herbaceous plants. Leaves simple, stipulate, toothed, alter- 

 nate. Flowers axillary. 



Affinities. These resemble Sterculiacese, Malvacese, and the orders 

 alHed to them, in most respects, and especially in the valvate cestivation 

 of their calyx. They are known by their glandular disk and distinct stamens, 

 with 2-celled anthers. 



Geography. The principal part of the order is found within the 

 tropics all over the world, forming mean weed-like plants, or shrubs, or trees, 

 with handsome, usually white or pink, flowers. A small number is peculiar 

 to the northern parts of either hemisphere, where they form timber-trees. 



Properties. They have all a mucilaginous, wholesome juice. The 

 leaves of Corchorus olitorius are used in Egypt as a pot-herb. The berries 

 of some of them are succulent and eatable. The species are more remark- 

 able for the toughness of the fibres of their inner bark, which are used for 

 various economical purposes. Fishing lines and nets are made in India 

 of Corchorus capsularis ; and the Russian mats of commerce are manufac- 

 tured from the Tilia. The bark of Luhea paniculata is used in Brazil for 

 tanning leather. The wood of Luhea divaricata, which is white and light, 

 but very close grained, makes good musket-stocks, and wooden soles for 

 shoes. The Brazilians call all such Acoita cavallos, because the sticks they 

 use for driving their cattle are generally obtained from them. PL Us. 66. 



Examples. Tilia, Sparmannia, Corchorus. 



XXX. EL^OCARPE^. 



ELiEOCARPEiE, Juss. Ann. Mus. 11. 223. (1808) ; Dec. Prodr. I. 519. (1824.) 



Diagnosis. Polypetalous dicotyledons, with numerous hypogynous 

 distinct stamens, concrete carpella, a many-celled ovarium with the placentae 

 in the axis, a calyx with valvate aestivation, anthers bursting by pores, and 

 lacerated imbricated petals. 



Anomalies. None, if Decadia, a genus of which little is known, with 

 round anthers and 10 slightly serrated petals, be excluded. 



Essential Character — Sepals 4 or 5, with a valvular aestivation, and no invo- 

 lucrum. Petals 4 or 5, hypogynous, lobed or fringed at the point. Disk glandular, some- 

 what projecting. Stamens from 15 to 20 ; filaments short, distinct ; ayithers long, filiform, 

 4-cornered, 2-celled, the cells opening by an oblong pore at the apex. Ovarium many- 

 celled; style one. Fruit variable, either indehiscent, dry, or drupaceous, or valvular. 

 Seeds 2 or more in each cell ; albumen fleshy ; embryo erect, with flat, leafy cotyledons. — 

 Trees or shrubs. Leaves alternate, entire or serrated, simple, with deciduous stipulce. 

 Flowers racemose. 



Affinities. These differ from Tiliaceae only in their fringed petals, 

 and anthers opening by two pores at the apex. Dec. M. Kunth combines 

 them with that order. Diss. Malv. p. 16. 



Geography. Of the described species, 10 are found in the East Indies, 

 4 in South America, 2 in New Holland, and 2 in New Zealand ; several 

 more, however, exist in India. 



