78 



stigma simple. Fruit somewhat drupaceous, indehiscent, frequently surrounded liy the 

 enlarged caljTi, 1-celled, l.seeded, Seed erect ; albumen large, fleshy ; embryo small, in the 



base of albumen, its radicle near the hilum Trees or shrubs. Leaves simple, alternate, 



entire, without stipula; ; occasionally altogether wanting. Flowers small, axillary. 



Affinities. M. DpcandoUe places this order near Aurantiacege, with 

 which it agrees in many respects, differing, however, in the structure of the 

 ovarium, the want of a disk, the unsymmetrical flowers, &c. Jussieu, on 

 the contrary, regards the affinity as strongest with Sapotece, considering the 

 corolla as monopetalous. But the obvious affinity of Olax with Aquilarinese 

 and Samydese induces me to concur with Mr. Brown in considering the 

 order nearly akin to Santalaceae, among Monochlamydete. In the mean 

 while its artificial characters place it among Thalamiflorae. 



Geography. A small order, consisting of tropical or nearly tropical 

 shrubs, chiefly found in the East Indies, New Holland, and Africa. One 

 only is known in the West Indies. None have been described from any 

 part of South America, south of Dutch Guiana. 



Properties. The wood of Heisteria coccinea is the Partridge wood of 

 the cabinet-makers. 



Examples. Olax, Fissilia. 



LXIX. CHAILLETIACEiE. 



Chailleti^, R. Brown Cong. p. 23. (1818) Chailletiace^e, Dec. Prodr. 2. 57. 



(1825.) 



Diagnosis. Polypetalous dicotyledons, with definite perigynous sta- 

 mens, concrete carpella, a superior ovarium with 2 or 3 cells and 5 hypogy- 

 nous glands, and alternate stipulate leaves. 



Anomalies. 



Essential Character Sepals 5, with an incurved valvate ipstivation. Petals 5, 



alternate with the sepals, and arising from the base of the calyx, usually 2-lobed. Stamens 

 5, alternate with the petals, and combined with them at the base ; (inthers ovate, versatile. 

 Glands usually 5, hypogynous, opposite the petals. Ovarium superior, 2- or 3-celled ; 

 ODufei- twin, pendulous; .sYy/e simple ; 6/i^m« ohsoletely 3-lobed. Fruit drupaceous, rather 

 dry, 1- 2- or 3-celled. Seeds solitary, pendulous, without albumen; embryo thick, with a 



thick superior radicle and fleshy cotyledons Trees or shrubs. Leaves alternate, with 



two stipulae, entire. Floivers small, axillary, their peduncle often connate with the petiole. 



Affinities. Whether what are here called petals are not rather abor- 

 tive stamina is doubted by botanists, and hence the station of the order is 

 by one referred to Dichlamydei3e, and by another to Monochlamydeoe, and 

 is compared, on the one hand, with Terebintaceae or Rosaceae, and, on the 

 other, with Samydea; and Amentacese. To me it seems that what apjjcar 

 to be petals are so ; a fact which it is difficult to doubt, when it is remem- 

 bered that both organs are mere transformations of one common type, and 

 that it is in appearance and ])osition only that they differ. Decandolle 

 stations it between HomalinctC and Aciuilarincee, to the latter of which it 

 has probably most affinity; it agrees with the former in the presence of 

 glands round the ovarium, but differs in its superior ovarium with the pla- 

 centae in the axis, and many other characters. 



Geography. Of the few known species belonging to this order, 2 are 

 found in Sierra Leone, 2 in Madagascar, 2 in equinoctial America, and 1 in 

 Timor. 



Properties. The fruit of Chailletia toxicaria is said to be poisonous. 



ExAMi'LF.s. Chailletia, Leucosia, Tapura. 



