109 



XC. DATISCEiE. 



DATiscEiE, R. Brown in Denham, 25. (1826.) 



Diagnosis, Apetalous dicotyledons, with indefinite ovules, a 1-celIed 

 ovarium with parietal placentae, dehiscent fruit, regular unisexual flowers, and 

 a straight embryo. 



Anomalies. 



Essential Character Flowers unisexual. Calyx of the males divided into 



several pieces ; of the females superior, toothed. Stamens several ; anthers 2-celled, mem- 

 branous, linear, bursting longitudinally. Ovarium 1-celled, with polyspermous parietal 

 placentae; stigmas equal in number to the placentie, recurved. Frtiit capsular, opening 

 at the vertex, 1-celled, with polyspermous parietal placenta;. Seeds enveloped in a mem- 

 branous finely reticulated integument ; embryo straight, without albumen, its radicle turned 

 towards the hilum Herbaceous branched plants. Leaves alternate, cut, compound, with- 

 out stipulse. Flowers in axillary racemes. 



Affinities. Mr. Brown is of opinion that this order differs widely 

 from Reseda ; but it strikes me that there is no group of plants to which 

 it bears a greater affinity, if the flowers of Reseda are considered apetalous, 

 which Mr. Brown, however, does not admit. Their habit is very similar. 

 The structure of the fruit is absolutely the same, except that the calyx of one 

 is superior, and of the other inferior ; both are destitute of albumen ; their 

 anthers are also essentially alike. I consider Datiscese a connecting link 

 between Resedacese and Urticesc. 



Geography. The very few species of which this order consists are 

 scattered over North America, Siberia, northern India, the Indian archipelago, 

 and the south-eastern corner of Europe. 



Properties. Datisca is bitter. 



Examples. Datisca, Tetrameles. 



XCI. EMPETRE^. The Crowberry Tribe. 



EsiPETRE^E, NutL Gen. 2. 233.; Don in Edinb. New Phil. Journ. (1826); 

 Lindley^s Synopsis, 224. (1829.) 



Diagnosis. Apetalous dicotyledons, with definite ascending ovules, 

 inferior distinct imbricated sepals, distinct stamens, and an embryo in the 

 axis of fleshy albumen. 



Anomalies. 



Essential Character. — Ffowers unisexual. Sepals hyTpogynous imbricated scales. 

 Stamens equal in number to the sepals, and alternate with them ; anthers roundish, 2-celled, 

 the cells distinct, bursting longitudinally. Ovarium superior, seated in a fleshy disk, 3- 6- 

 or 9-c«lled ; ovules solitary, ascending ; style 1 ; stigma radiating, the number of its rays 

 corresponding with the cells of the ovarium. Fruit fleshy, seated in the persistent calyx, 

 3- 6- or J) -eel led ; the coating of the cells bony. Seeds solitary, ascending; embryo taper, 



in the axis of fleshy waterv albumen ; radicle inferior Small acrid shrubs with heath. 



like evergreen leaves without stipulaj ; and minute powers in their axillae. 



Affinities. Although the institution of this order is attributable to 

 Mr. Nuttall, the final determination and characterising it is due to the exact- 

 ness of Mr. Don, who has made numerous remarks upon it in the work above 



