72 



dehiscent, or indehiscent ? Seed erect or inverted ; testa brittle ; nucleus a solid fleshy 

 mass, with no distinction of albumen or embryo ; radicular end next the hilum ? ; hilum 

 fungous — Shrubs. Leaves opposite, imbricated, without stipulse. Flowers terminal and 

 axillary, usually red. 



Affinities. According to an observation of Jussieu, this order is allied 

 tp Epacridese ; but I confess I am unable to perceive on what account. To 

 me it appears related in the first degree to some apetalous dicotyledons, 

 such as Proteaceae, with some of which the species agree in habit, and in the 

 case of Pencea fruticulosa even in the thickened connectivum and the struc- 

 ture of the lobes of the stigma, each of which is strikingly like that of a 

 Grevillea. To Bruniacece they must be compared, notwithstanding the pre- 

 sence of petals in that order, for the sake of Linconia, in which the pen- 

 dulous ovula agree with P. marginata (Geissoloma m.), and the thickened 

 connectivum of the anthers, which is common to several species, although not 

 present in Geissoloma. The fungous hilum of the seed is similar to that 

 of Poiygalese, with which, however, Penseacese have no other apparent relation. 



This order exhibits a singular instance of two distinct kinds of sestivation 

 and attachment of ovula among species which it is impossible to separate 

 from each other. In true Penaea the aestivation is valvate, and the ovula 

 ascending, while in Geissoloma the former is imbricate, and the latter 

 suspended. Penaea has also tetrandrous flosvers, with peculiarly fleshy an- 

 thers, while Geissoloma has octandrous flowers, with no peculiar fleshiness 

 in the anthers. 



Geography. Evergreen shrubs, natives of the Cape of Good Hope. 

 .Properties. A subviscid, sweetish, somewhat nauseous gum-resin, 

 called Sarcocolla, is produced by Penaea mucronata (and others). It was 

 supposed by the Arabians to possess, as its name indicates, the power of 

 agglutinating wounds. Ainslie, 1. 380. . It contains a peculiar principle, 

 named Sarcocollim, which has never been detected, in any other vegetable 

 matter, and having the property of forming oxalic acid, being treated with 

 nitric acid, Dec. 



Examples. Pensea, Geissoloma. 



LXII. ARISTOLOCHIiE. The Bun iiwort Tribe. 



AniSTOLOCHi.E, Juss. Gen. (1789) ; R. Brown Prodr. 340. (1810) ; Liwlley^s Syrwpsis, 

 224. (1829) — PiSTOLocHiN.* and AsarinvE, Link Handb. 1. 367- (1829.) 



Diagnosis. Apetalous dicotyledons, with indefinite ovules, a many- 

 celled ovarium, and a valvate calyx. 

 Anomalies. 



Essential Character Flowers hermaphrodite. Calyx superior, tubular, with 3 



segments, which are valvate in aestivation, sometimes regular, sonietiiiies very unequal. 

 Stamens f> to 10, eitigj-nous, distinct, or adhering to the style and stigmas. Ovarhim 

 inferior, 3- or (J-celled ; ovules numerous, horizontally attached to the axis ; style simple, 

 slif/tiifis radiating, as numerous as tlic cells of the ovariimi. Fruit dry or succulent, 3- or 

 6-c('llcd, iiKtiiy-seeded. Seeds with a very minute embryo placed in the base of fleshy 



albimieii Herbaceous plants or shrubs, the latter often climbing. Leaves alternate, 



simple, stalked, often with leafy stipula>. Flowers axillary, solitary, lirown or some dull 

 colour. 



Affinities. These are usually stationed upon the limits of monocoty- 

 ledons and dicotyledons, agreeing with the former in the ternary division of 



