47 



by their base, and the alternate leaves : Ericese in the anthers and disk of the 

 genus Antholoma : Hypericineae and Guttiferse in the hypogynous stamens, 

 the polypetalous corolla of some genera, pkcentation and numerous seeds; 

 wherefore Jussieu stationed the order near Clusia. Dec. Prodr. 1. 565. 

 (1824.) M. Turpin has somewhere remarked, that the bractea; of this 

 order offer a clear explanation of the conversion of a degenerated leaf into 

 an ovulum. 



Geography. All found in equinoctial America, except Antholema, 

 which is a native of New Caledonia. 



Properties. Handsome and curious plants, remarkable for their sin- 

 gular cucuUate bracteae. Nothing is known of their qualities. 



M. Decandolle distinguishes 



Sub-order I. MARCGRAAViEiE. 

 Corolla calyptriform. Stamens inserted in the receptacle. 



Sub-order II. Norante^e. 

 Petals 5. Stamens pressed close to the corolla, and as if inserted into it. 

 Examples. Norantea, Marcgraavia. 



XXXVI. HYPERICINE^. The Tutsan Tribe. 



Hyperica, Jmss. Gen. 254.(1789.)— HypERiciNE^i Chois. Prodr. Hyp.m.{\9.2\)', 

 Dec. Prodr. 1. 541. (1824) ; Lindl. Synops. p. 41. (1829.) 



Diagnosis. Polypetalous dicotyledons, with hypogynous indefinite 

 symmetrical polyadelphous stamens, concrete carpella, an ovarium of several 

 cells with the placentae in the axis, an irregular calyx with imbricate sestiva-. 

 tion, indefinite seeds, and resinous yellow juice. 



Anomalies. Laneritia has 10 monadelphous stamens. Some species of 

 Vismia have solitary seeds, according to Cambessedes. 



Essential Character Sepals 4-5, either more or less cohering, or wholly distinct, 



persistent, unequal, with glandular dots. Petals 4-5, hypogynous, with a twisted aestivation 

 and oblique venation, often having black dots. Stameii.s indefinite, hypogynous, in three or 

 more parcels ; anthers versatile. Ovary single, superior ; styles several, rarely connate ; 

 stigmas simple, occasionally capitate. Fruit a capsule or berry, of many valves and many 

 cells ; the edges of the former being curved inwards. Seeds minute, indefinite, usually 

 tapering, attached to a placenta in the axis or on the inner edge of the dissepiments ; em- 

 bryo straight, with an inferior radicle and no albumen Herhaceoiis plants, shrubs, or trees, 



with a resinous juice. Leaves opposite, entire, dotted, occasionally alternate and crenated. 

 Flowers generally yellow. Inflorescence variable. 



Affinities. Nearly allied to Guttiferae, from which they chiefly differ 

 in their small round and versatile anthers, numerous styles, and polyspermous 

 capsules. To Cistineae they approximate in many points, dittering princi- 

 pally in their fruit, polyadelphous stamens, and dotted leaves. With Saxi- 

 frageae they appear to me to have a strong relation, through the medium of 

 Parnassia, the fringed glands of which are analogous to the polyandrous 

 fascicles of Hypericum. The leaves of Hypericineae are very commonly 

 marked with dots, which are either transparent, or black and opaque. 



Geography. These are very generally spread over the surface of the 

 earth, inhabiting mountains and valleys, marshes and dry plains, meadows 

 and heaths. The following is the distribution of them, according to M. 

 Choisy : — Europe, 19; Nor.th America, 41; South America, 21; West 

 Indies, 1 ; Asia, 24; New Holland, 5 ; Africa and the neighbouring islands, 



