51 



to a central placenta ; embryo in the axis of rtesliy all)iimen, witli a long taper radicle, point- 

 ing to the hilnni Shrubs. L'eaves toothed, ternate, opposite, without stipuht". Flowers 



solitary, axillary. 



Affinities. I distinguish this small order both from Saxifragece and 

 Cunoniacese by its indefinite stamens, anthers dehiscing by pores, and by its 

 peculiar habit. It has always been considered an anomaly, with whichsoever 

 of those two orders it has been combined, and is now conveniently separated 

 from them. The origin of the petals and stamens appears at first sight to be 

 hypogynous. But if a flower be carefully cut through vertically, it will be 

 found that the ovarium coheres slightly with the calyx^ and that the petals 

 and stamens take their origin 'from above the point of cohesion. Ihey are 

 consequently perigynous, and not hypogynous. 



Geography. Native of New Holland. 



Properties. None that are known, except beauty. 



ExAMi-LE. Bauera only. 



XLI. BRUNIACE^. 



Bruniace^., R. Brown in Abel's China (1818); Dec. Prodr. 2. 4.^. (1825); Ad. 



Brongniart in Ann. des So. JVal. (1826). 



Diagnosis. Polypetalous dicotyledons, with perigynous stamens equal 

 in number to the petals, concrete carpella, an inferior ovarium of from 1 to 3 

 cells, containing definite pendulous ovules, imbricated sepals, and embryo in 

 the axis of albumen. 



Anomalies. Berzelia has a single carpellum. Raspailia has the ova- 

 rium superior. 



Essential Character Calyx superior, 5-cleft, imbricated, occasionally nearly infe- 

 rior. Petals alternate with the segments of the calyx, arising from its throat, imbricated. 

 Stamens alternate with the petals, arising from the same point, or from a disk surrounding 

 theovarium; anthers twr neA outwards, 2-celled, bursting longitudinally. Oyarn/m half infe- 

 rior, with from 1 to 3 cells, in each of which there is from 1 to 2 suspended collateral ovula ; 

 style simple or bifid ; stigma simple. Fruit dioecious or indehiscent, 2- or l-celled, crowned 

 by the persistent calyx. Seeds solitary or in pairs, suspended, sometimes with a short aril- 

 lus ; albumen fleshy ; embryo minute at the base of the seed, with a conical stiperior radicle, 



and short fleshy cotyledons Branched, heath-like shrubs. Leaves small, imbricated, rigid, 



entire, with a callous point. Flou-ers small, capitate, or panicled, or even terminal, and 

 solitary ; either naked, or with large involucrating in-acteai. 



Affinities. Nearly allied to Hamamelide*, which are known by their 

 habit, stipules, and deciduous valves of the anthers, and also by their val- 

 vate sepals and petals. Brongniart indicates . an affinity with Myrtacere 

 through Imbricaria, which is very nearly constructed as true Bruniaceae, but 

 has the stamens opposite the petals, and dotted leaves. The genus Raspailia 

 is remarkable for having the stamens arising from the top of a superior ova- 

 rium ! and Tharanea is perhaps a solitary instance of a l-celled ovarium 

 with the ovules adhering to a central columnar axis. This order appears to 

 me to approach Penricacese in several points. 



Geography. All found at the Cape of Good Hope, with the exception 

 of a single species inhabiting Madagascar. 



Properties. Unknown. 



Examples. Bnniia, Linconia, Raspailia. 



