44 



a definite number of seeds. With Marcgraaviacese they agree through 

 Norantea, which has the stamens sh'ghtly adherent to the base of the 

 petals, and fixed anthers; but that order is entirely different in habit, and 

 is well marked by its singular cucullate bracteae, its fruit, and its wingless 

 exalbuminous seeds. Many genera of Ternstrdmiacea?, such as Kiehneyera 

 and others, have the habit of Tiliaceae, while the fruit of Laplacea is strikingly 

 like that of Luhea; but the aestivation of the calyx and many other characters 

 distinguish them. 



Geography. Although the plants of this order which are known in 

 European gardens are chiefly from China or North America, these form but 

 an inconsiderable part of the whole : 7 or 8 are all that are contained in 

 the first of these countries, and 4 in the latter ; while between 60 and 70, all 

 beautiful trees or shrubs, are natives of the woods of South America : 

 about a score are known in the East Indies, and one in Africa. 



Properties. These are ill understood, but little being known of the 

 greater part of the species. The tea which is so extensively consumed by 

 Europeans is produced by different species of Thea and Camellia. An 

 excellent table oil is expressed from the seeds of Camellia oleifera. The 

 different species and varieties of Camellia japonica are the glory of gar- 

 deners. The fruit of a species of Saurauja is said to be acidulous, and to 

 resemble Tomatoes in flavour. Dec. The leaves of Kielmeyera speciosa are 

 employed in Brazil for fomentations, for which they are well adapted, on 

 account of the mucilage in which they abound. PL Us. 58. It is believed 

 in Brazil, that a decoction of the roots of a plant called Butua do curvo 

 (Wittelsbachia insignis Mart., Maximilianea regia Ibid., Cochlospermum 

 insigne Aug. St. H.) has the power of healing internal abscesses. The 

 Brazilians take it for all kinds of internal bruises. PL Us. 57. 



Examples. Thea, Gordonia, Saurauja, Ternstrdmia. 



XXXIII. LECYTHIDE^. 



LECYTHiDEi^, Richard MS S. Poiteau Mem. Mus. 13. 141. (1825); Dec. Prodr. 3. 290. 

 (1828); a sect, o/ Myrtaceae. Ach. Richard in Ann. des Sc. 1. :V2\. (1824.) 



Diagnosis. Polypetalous dicotyledons, with indefinite perigynous 



stamens, concrete carpella, an inferior ovarium of several cells, round 



anthers, indefinite ovula, and exalbuminous seeds. 



Anomalies. Ovula som.etimes definite. 



Essential Chaiiacter. — Calyx superior, 2- to6-leaved, or urceolate, with a divided 

 limb ; aestivation valvate or iml)ricated. Corolla consisting of 6 petals, sometimes cohering 

 at the base, with an imbricated a;stivation. Stamens indefinite, epigynous, either connected 

 into a single petaloid cucullate unihtteral body, or monadelphous at the base. Ovarium 

 inferior, 2-toC-celled; oinila indefinite, or definite attached to the axis; stif/ma simple. 

 Fruit a woody capsule, either opening witli a lid or remaining closed. Seeds several, 

 covered by a thick integument ; embryo without alhumcii, either undivided, or with two 

 large plaited leafy or fleshy cotyledons, sometimes folded upon tlie radicle, which is next 



the hilum Large trees, witli alternate entire or toothed leaves, with minute deciduous 



stipulae, and without pellucid dots, flowers large, showy, terminal, solitary, or racemose. 



Affinities. Combined by Dccandolle and others with Myrtaceae, 

 from which they differ most essentially in their alternate, often serrated, 

 leaves, without pellucid dots. To me they appear, notwithstanding the 

 perigynous station of their stamens, to be more nearly allied to Tern- 

 strdmiaceae. For an account of the germination of Lecythis, see Du Petit 

 Thouars, Ess. 3. 32. 



