75 . 



always a determinate number of ovula, which are pendulous, and attached 

 to the apex of a central receptacle. This receptacle varies in its figure in 

 the different genera, in some being filiform, in others nearly filling the 

 cavity of the ovarium. It appears, from the botanical Appendix to Captain 

 Flinders's Voyage, that there is a very remarkable species of Exocarpus 

 (a genus belonging to this tribe), which bears its flowers upon the margins 

 of dilated foliaceous branches, analogous to those of Xylophylla. I refer 

 Nyssacese to this, without any doubt. According to Jussieu, who is the 

 only botanist that has noticed that tribe, it contains but the single genus 

 Nyssa, differing from Elseagneae in its inferior ovarium, albuminous pen- 

 dulous seed, and superior radicle. It is more nearly allied to Santalacese; 

 but its ovarium contains, instead of three ovules adhering to a central pla- 

 centa, one only, which is pendulous, and its embryo is not cylindrical, but has 

 enlarged foliaceous cotyledons. It has been long since remarked by Mr. 

 Brown, that Anthobolus and Exocarpus differ from Santalaceee in having a 

 superior ovarium : Jussieu, in his last observations upon this tribe, does 

 not absolutely separate those genera, but he suggests the possibility of their 

 forming a new family along with Cervantesia of the Flora Peruviana. 



Geography. Found in Europe and North America, in the form of 

 little obscure weeds ; in New Holland, the East Indies, and the South Sea 

 Islands, as large shrubs, or small trees. 



Properties. Sanders-wood is the produce of Santalum album. In 

 India it is esteemed by the native doctors as possessing sedative and cooling 

 qualities, and as a valuable medicine in gonorrhcea. It is also employed as 

 a perfume. Ainslie, 1.377. The Thesiums are scentless and slightly as- 

 tringent. Dec. 



Examples. Santalum, Nyssa, Thesium. 



LXV. THYMELiEiE. The Mezereum Tribe. 



THYMEL^iE, Juss. Gen. 76. (1789) ; R. Br. Prodr. 358. (1810) ; Lhidlei/s Synopsis, 



208. (1829.) 



Diagnosis. Apetalous dicotyledons, with definite pendulous ovula, 

 a single 1 -celled superior ovarium, indehiscent fruit, and exstipulate 

 leaves. 



Anomalies. 



Essential Character Calyx inferior, tubular, coloured ; the limb 4-cleft, seldom 



5-cleft, with an imbricated aestivation. Corolla 0, or sometimes scale-like petals in the 

 orifice of the calyx. Stamens definite, inserted in the tube or its orifice, often 8, sometimes 

 4, less frequently 2 ; when equal in number to the segments of the calyx or fewer, opposite 

 to them ; anthers 2-celled, dehiscing lengthwise in the middle. Ovarium solitary, with one 

 solitary pendulous oviilum ; style 1 ; stigma undivided. Fruit hard, dry, and nut-Hke, or 

 drupaceous. Albumen none, or thin and fleshy ; embryo straight, inverted ; cotyledons 

 ])lano-convex ; radicle short, superior ; plnmula inconspicuous. — Stem shrubl)y, very sel- 

 dom herbaceous, with tenacious bark. Leaves without stipula?, alternate or opposite, 

 entire. Floivers capitate or spiked, terminal or axillary, occasionally solitary. R. Br. 



Affinities. Closely akin to Santalacese, Elasagnefe, and Proteaceae 

 from all which they are readily known by obvious characters ; especially 

 from the two latter by the pendulous ovula, and from the former by the 

 inferior calyx. Aquilarinese, placed by Decandolle near Chailletiaceae, among 

 polypetalous orders, differ from Thymelsese chiefly in their 2-valved fruit ; 



