.68 



Affinittes. " Differ from Myrtaceae in their more numerous petals, 

 adnata anthers, 1 -celled fruit, and pendulous albuminous seeds. Agree 

 with Combretacea; in the contracted tube of the calyx, 1 -celled fruit, and 

 pendulous seeds ; .but differ in the number of the petals, adnate anthers, albu- 

 minous seeds, and flat cotyledons. The order disagrees entirely with Melasto- 

 maceoe and Onagrariae, in the form of the anthers, and 1 -celled fruit. It in 

 some measure approaches Haloragese in the structure of the seed, but recedes 

 from them in habit, 1 -celled fruit, and single style." Dec. Prodr. 3. 203. 



Geography.. Natives of the East Indies. 



Properties. Alangium decapetalum and hexapetalum are said by the 

 Malays to have a purgative hydragogic property. Their roots are aromatic. 



Example. Alangium. 



LTX. EL^AGNE^. The Olkaster Trirf.. 



Ei.iT.AGNi, Juss. Gen. 75. (1789) ELyF.AGNEyE, Acli. Rich. Monoyr. (1823); Lindl. 



Synopsis, 208. (1829.) 



Diagnosis. Apetalous dicotyledons, with definite erect ovula, a tubular 

 inferior calyx with the stamens alternate with its segments, and leprous 

 leaves. 



Anomalies. None. 



Essential Character. — Flowers dioecious, rarely hermaphrodite. Male: Calyx 

 4-parted ; stamens 3, 4, or 8, sessile ; anthers 2-celled. Female : Calyx inferior, tubular, 

 persistent ; the limh entire, or 2-4-toothed. Ovarium superior, simple, 1 -celled ; omilum 

 sohtary, ascending, stalked ; stigma simple, subulate, glandular. Fruit crustaceotis, en- 

 closed within the calyx become succulent. Seed erect ; embryo straight, surrounded by very 

 thin fleshy albumen; radicle short, inferior ; cotyledons fleshy — Trees or shrubs, covered 

 with leprous scales. Leaves alternate, or opposite, entire, without stipulae. Flowers axil- 

 lary, often fragrant. 



Affinities. Its leprous leaves, superior fruit, and apetalous flowers, 

 will at all times distinguish the Oleaster tribe, which touches at one 

 point Thymelsese, from which it is known by the position of its ovulum ; at 

 another Proteaceae, known by their valvate irregular calyxes, and dehiscent 

 fruit ; at a third Santalaceee, which have the ovarium inferior ; and also at 

 a fourth Combretaceee, which have petals, convolute cotyledons, and a supe- 

 rior calyx. . 



Geography. The whole of the northern hemisphere, as far as the 

 equator, is occupied more or less by this family, from Canada and Japan to 

 Guiana and Java : they are not known south of the line. 



Properties. The berries of Hippophae rhamnoides are occasionally 

 eaten ; the fruit of Elocagnus orientalis is almost as large as a Jujube, and is 

 known in Persia as an article of the dessert, under the name of Zinzeyd ; 

 that of E. arborea and conferta is eaten in Nipal. 



• Examples. Elocagnus, Hippophae, Shepherdia, Conulcum. 



LX. PROTEACEiE. 



ProteacE/E, Jnss. Gen. (1789); /?. ISrmrn in /Ann. Trans. 10. 15. (1809); Prodr. 



.303. (IHIO.) 



Diagnosis. Apetalous dicotyledons, with definite erect ovula, dohis- 



