53 



nean Society, in which he endeavoured to shew the difficulty o/ distinguishing 

 Leptospermum even generically from Philadelphus, — so little did his school 

 at that time know of the method of pursuing botanical inquiries. The afHnity 

 of the order has, however, been very properly shewn by Mi. Don to be not 

 so much with Myrtacese as with Saxifragece, to which latter Philadelpheaj do 

 in fact closely approach, differing widely in habit, but in fructification dis- 

 tinguished chiefly by the numerous cells of the fruit and the indefinite sta- 

 mens. Decandolle points out an approach to Hydrangea ; and if that genus 

 does not actually belong to this order, it is at least probable that it is a link 

 connecting it with Viburnum, agreeing almost equally with Philadelphea3 and 

 Viburneae in habit and fructification. Deutzia of Thunberg, which is not 

 included in the order by Decandolle, certainly belongs to it ; as I first learned 

 from|Mr. Brown's notes in Dr. Wallich's Herbarium, and as I since find 

 stated by Mr. Don. 



Geograthy. Deciduous shrubs, inhabiting thickets in Europe, North 

 America, the north of India, and Japan. 



Pkoperties. Unknown. 



Examples. Philadelphus, Deutzia. 



XLIV. ESCALLONIE/E. 



EscalloniEjT, R. Brown in Frankliii's Voyage, 7C''>- (1824.) 



Diagnosis. Polypetalous dicotyledons, with definite perigynous sta- 

 mens, concrete carpella, an inferior ovarium of several cells with indefinite 

 ovula, 5 sepals, and petals cohering in a tube. 



Anomalies. 



Essential Character. — Calyx superior, 5-toothed. Corolla consisting of 5 petals, 

 alternate with the segments of the calyx, from within which they arise, forming by their 

 cohesion a tube, but finally separating from each other ; aestivation imbricated. Stamens 

 arising from the calyx, alternate with the petals ; anthers bursting longitudinally. Disk 

 conical, epigynous, plaited, surrounding the base of tli,e style. Oourium inferior, 2-celled, 

 with two large polyspermous placentae in the axis ; style simple ; stigma 2-lobed. Fruit 

 capsular, 2-celled, surmounted by the persistent style and calyx, splitting by the separation 

 of the cells at their base. Seeds very numerous and minute ; with a transparent membra- 

 nous integument ; embryo minute, in the apex of oily albtimen, its radicle at the opposite 

 extremity of the hilum — Shrubs with alternate, toothed, resinously glandular, exstipulate 

 leaves, and axillary conspicuous ^otoers. 



Affinities. Distinguished from Grossulaceee by the cohering petals, 

 and by the radicle of the embryo being at the extremity most remote from 

 the hilum ; the albumen is also oily, not horny, and the placentae are not 

 parietal. From Philadelphese they are known by their glandular leaves and 

 minute embryo ; from Vaccinieoe by the final separation of the petals, and 

 by the anthers. 



Geography. All found in the temperate parts of South America, par- 

 ticularly Chile. 



Properties. Unknown. H-andsome shrubs, with evergreen leaves. 



Example. Escallonia. 



