48 



7 ; Azores and Canaries, 5 ; common to Europe and Asia, 4 ; common to 

 Europe, Asia, and Africa, 1. {Choisij Prodr. 1821.) 



Properties. The juice of many species is slightly purgative and fe- 

 brifugal ; it is most copious in the Vismias, and is analogous to Gam- 

 boge, has a resinous smell, and gives out to spirit of wine, or oil, a red 

 colour, which may be employed in dyeing. Hypericum hircinum is foetid. 

 A gargle for sore throats is prepared in Brazil from the Hypericum connatum, 

 commonly called Orellia de Gato. PL Us. 61. A decoction of the leaves 

 of another species, Hypericum laxiusculum, ov Allecrim brabo. is reputed in 

 the same country as a specific against the bites of serpents. lb, 62. 



Examples. Hypericum, Vismea, Elodea. 



The following sections are employed by M. Choisy : — 



Sub-order I. True Hypericine^. 



Seeds taper. Styles usually from 3 to 5. 



Tribe 1. Vismie.?:. Fruit a berry. Flowers in distinct, leafless, race- 

 mose, or corymbose panicles. Trees or shrub>. Leaves stalked. 



Tribe 2. Hyperice^. Fruit a capsule. Flowers terminal or axillary. 

 Herbaceous plants or under-shrubs. Leaves usually sessile. 



Sub-order H. Anomalous Hvpericine-^. . 

 Seeds flat, winged. Styles more than 5. 



XXXVII. REAUMURIE^. 



Reaumuriete, Ehrenherg in Ann. des Sc. 12. 78. (18270 



Diagnosis. Polypetalous dicotyledons, with indefinite hypogynous sta- 

 mens, concrete carpella, an imbricated calyx, an ovarium of several cells, 

 several styles, and villous seeds definite in number. 



Anomalies. 



Essential Character Calyx 5-parted, surrounded externally by imbricated brac- 



teae. Petals 5, hypogynous. Stamens definite or indefinite, hypogynous, with or without an 

 hypogynous disk ; anthers peltate. Ovarium superior ; styles several, filiform, or subulate. 

 Fruit capsular, with 2 to .5 valves, and as many cells, and a loculicidal dehiscence. Seeds 

 definite, villous, erect ; embryo straight, surrounded by a small (|uantity of mealy albumen ; 



radicle next the hilum Shrubs. Leaves fleshy, scale-like, or small, alternate, without 



stipula?. Floieers solitary. 



Affinities. Dr. Ehrenberg suggests {Ann. des Sc. 12. 78.) that 

 Reaumuria and Hololachna, both of which have, according to him, hypo- 

 gynous stamens, may constitute a little group, to be called Reaumurieae. 

 To me the order appears more nearly related to Hypcricinea; than to 

 either Ficoidea; or Tamariscine-cC. From the former it chiefly differs in its 

 succulent habit, and definite villous seeds, agreeing, in Reaumuria at least, 

 even in the oblifpiity of the veins of the petals, and in the leaves being 

 dotted. From Ficoide-cE its hypogynous stamens and seeds distinguish it; 

 from Tamariscincaf its plurilocnlar ovarium and distinct styles ; from Nitra- 

 riaceae its erect villous seeds, distinct styles, and hypogynous stamens. 



Geography. Natives of the Mediterranean and the milder parts of 

 Northern Asia. 



Properties. None except tlie presence of saline matter in great 

 abundance. 



Examples. Reaumuria, llololvichnu. 



