113 . 



Celastrinea- than to any other order. The fruit is well described by Dr. 

 Wallich in the Flora Indica. 



Geography. Madagascar trees. 



Propeuties. Unknown. 



Example. Brexia. 



XCVI. RHAMNEiE. The Buckthorn Tribe. 



Rhamni, Juss. Gen. 376. (1789) — Rhamneje, Dec. Prodr. 2. 19. (1825); Brongniart 

 Mimoire sur les Rhamnies, (1826); Lindl. Synops. 72. (1829.) 



Diagnosis. Polypetalous dicotyledons, with perigynous definite sta- 

 mens opposite the cucullate petals, concrete carpella, a superior ovarium 

 with several cells surrounded by a fleshy disk, solitary erect ovula, valvate 

 calyx, and alternate simple leaves with minute stipulse. 



Anomalies. Sometimes the ovarium is inferior. Leaves opposite in 

 Colletia and Retanilla. Stipules and petals often wanting. 



Essential Character Calyx monophyllous, 4-5-cleft, with a valvate aestivation. 



Petals distinct, cucullate, or convolute, inserted into the orifice of the calyx, occasionally 

 wanting. Stamens definite, opposite the petals. Disk fleshy. Ovarium superior, or half 

 superior, 2- 3- or 4-celled ; ovules solitary, erect. Fruit fleshy and indehiscent, or dry 

 and separating in 3 divisions. Seeds erect ; albumen flesliy, seldom wanting ; embryo 



almost as long as the seed, with large flat cotyledons, and a short inferior radicle Trees 



or shrubs, often spiny. Leaves simple, alternate, very seldom opposite, with minute 

 stipiilce. Flowers axillary or terminal. 



Affinities. Under this name have been for a long time confounded 

 four orders, very different in characters, and even in natural affinities, the 

 peculiarities of three of which have been pointed out by M. Ad. Brongniart 

 in his memoir upon the subject, and a fourth has been distinguished by 

 myself. These orders are Rhamnese properly so called, Celastrineffi, Ilici- 

 neae, and Staphyleaceee, the respective affinities of which will be found 

 under each. M. Brongniart indicates the relation that Rhamnese bear, 

 thus : if we take the insertion of stamens as the most important distinction 

 of plants, it will be found that among polypetalous orders with perigynous 

 stamens, Pomacese are those to which Rhamnese have the closest relation, 

 agreeing with them in the ovarium, the cells of which are determinate in 

 number, in the ascending ovules, and in their alternate leaves usually having 

 two stipulss at their base ; the number and position of their stamens, and 

 the structure of their seeds, separate them widely. But if the insertion of 

 the stamens is left out of consideration, they will be found to have many 

 characters in common with Blittneriacese (Browti in Flinders, 22.) ; such as, 

 the aestivation of the calyx, the form of the petals, the position of the sta- 

 mens in front of those petals, the structure of the ovarium and seeds in 

 many important points ; the principal differences between ihem are, in iact, 

 the stamens being turned outwards in Blittneriacese, which are also destitute 

 of a disk, have hypogynous stamens, and always 2 or more ovules. Eu- 

 phorbiacese are allied to Rhamnese ; but the constant separation of sexes in 

 the former family, their hypogynous stamens and suspended ovules, are all 

 important marks of distinction. Nitrariacese may be compared with Rham- 

 nese in several points. 



Geography. Found over nearly all the world, except in the arctic 

 zone ; the maximum of species is said to be dispersed through the hottest 

 parts of the United States, the south of Europe, the north of Africa, Persia 

 and India in the northern hemisphere, and the Cape of Good Hope and 



X 



