112 



placed between Erythroxylese and Marcgraaviacese by DecandoUe, but 

 which is, to all appearance, much more nearly related to Celastrineae, as 

 Mr. Brown has remarked ; for " the insertion of the ovula is either towards 

 the base, or is central ; the direction of the radicle is always inferior." 

 Brown, Congo, 427. In Hippocratea ovata the testa and cotyledons are 

 furnished in the inside with innumerable trachea-like threads; the same 

 economy has been remarked by Du Petit Thouars in the pericarp of Calypso. 

 Dec. Prodr. 1. 567. The only similar cases of this curious structure with 

 which I am acquainted are in Collomia, in which I have detected it {Bot. 

 Reg. fol. 1166.), and in Casuarina, in which it has been described by Mr. 

 Brown; plants having no apparent affinity with Hippocrateaceae, 



Geography. The principal part are South American, about 1-seventh 

 are natives of Africa or the Mauritian Islands, and the same number has 

 been recorded as East Indian. 



Properties. The fruit of Tonsella pyriformis, a native of Sierra Leone, 

 is eatable. It is about the size of a Bergamot Pear ; its flavour is rich and 

 sweet. Hort. Trans. The nuts of Hippocratea comosa are oily and sweet. 

 Swart z. 1. 78. 



Examples. Hippocratea, Anthodon, Salacia. 



XCV. BREXIACEiE. 



Diagnosis. Polypetalous dicotyledons, with definite hypogynous sta- 

 mens, a hypogynous disk, concrete carpella, an ovarium of several cells 

 with the placentae in the axis, an imbricated calyx, symmetrical flowers, in- 

 definite exalbuminous seeds with a straight embryo, and drupaceous fruit 

 and arborescent stems. 



Anomalies. 



Essential Character Calyx inferior, small, persistent, 5-parted; aestivation 



imbricated. Petals 5, hypogynous, imbricated in (estivation. Stamens 5, hypogynous, 

 alternate with the petals, arising from a narrow ciij), which is toothed between each sta- 

 men ; anthers oval, innate, 2-celleil, bursting longitudinally, fleshy at the apex ; pollen 

 triangular, cohering by means of fine threads. Ovarium superior, 5-celled, with numerous 

 ovules attached in two rows to placenta? in the axis; style 1, continuous; stigma simple. 

 Fruit drupaceous, 5-celled, many-seeded. Seeds indefinite, attached to the axis, with a 

 double integument, the inner of which is membranous ; albumen ; cotyledons ovate, 

 obtuse; radicle cylindrical, centripetal Trees, with nearly simple trunks. Leaves coria- 

 ceous, alternate, simple, not dotted, with deciduous minute stipulee. Flowers green, in 

 axillary umbels, surrounded by bractea; on the outside. 



Affinities. The solitary genus upon which this order is founded does 

 not exhibit any very obvious affinities, for which reason it is probable tliat 

 other genera remain to be discovered which will establish the connexion 

 that is at present wanting. Its habit is that of some Myrsinese, especially 

 Theophrasta, from which it difl'crs in being polypetalous, in the stamens 

 being alternate with the petals, and in many other circumstances. With 

 Rhamneae and Celastrinea; its relation is no doubt strong, but its stamens 

 are hypogynous, not perigynous, and its seeds indefinite. Some resemblance 

 may be traced between it and Anacardiaccic, especially in the resinous ap- 

 pearances visible upon the young shoots, and also in habit; but its fructifi- 

 cation is entirely at variance with that order. With Pittosporeaj it agrees 

 in its hypogynous definite stamens, its polyspermous fruit, its alternate un- 

 divided leaves, and habit; but it disagrees in a number of important parti- 

 culars. Upon the whole, however, I think it approaches more nearly to 



