114 



New Holland in the southern. .Some of the genera appear to be confined 

 to particular countries, as all the true Ceanothuses to North America, Phyli- 

 cas to the Cape, Cryptandra and Pomaderris to New Holland. 



Proferties. The berries of various species of Rhamnus are violent 

 purgatives, and have been highly spoken of in dropsy. They also yield a 

 dye, varying in tint from yellow to green ; the ripe berries of R. catharticus, 

 mixed with gum arabic and lime-water form the green colour known under 

 the name of Bladder-green. The French berries of the shops (Graines 

 d'Avignon, Fr.) are the fruit of Rh. infectorius and saxatilis, and amygda- 

 linus. The fruit of Zizyphus is destitute of these purgative qualities, and, 

 on the contrary, is often wholesome and pleasant to eat, as in the case 

 of the Jujube and the Lote, the latter of which is now known to have given 

 their name to the classical Lotophagi. The peduncles of Hovenia dulcis 

 become extremely enlarged and succulent, and are in China a fruit in much 

 esteem, resembling in flavour, as it is said, a ripe Pear. Some species are 

 astringent. Sageretia theezans is used for tea by the poorer classes in 

 China; an infusion of the twigs of Ceanothus americanus has been named 

 as useful, on account of its astringency, to stop gonorrhoeal discharges; 

 antisyphilitic virtues are ascribed to the root of the same, and also of Ber- 

 chemia volubilis ; and it is said, by Rumphius, that in the Moluccas the 

 bark of Zizyphus Jujuba is employed as a remedy for diarrhoea. Brongn. 

 Examples. Rhamnus, Phylica, Hovenia. 



XCVII. STAPHYLEACE^. The Bladder-Nut Tribe. 



CELASTRiNEii:, § Staphyleaccse, Dec. Prodr. 2. 2. (1825) Staphyleace^, LindL 



Synops. 75. (1829.) 



Diagnosis. Polypetalous dicotyledons, with 5 perigynous stamens 

 alternate with the petals, concrete carpelli, a superior ovarium of several 

 cells surrounded by a fleshy disk, erect ovules, and opposite pinnated leaves 

 with common and partial stipulse. 



ANOJtf ALiEs. Flowers unisexual in Turpinia. 



Essential Character Sepals 5, connected at the base, coloured, with an imbri- 

 cated (estivation. Petals 5, alternate, with an imbricated estivation. Stamens 5, alternate 

 with the jietals, ])erigynous. Disk large, urceolate. Ovarium 2- or :i-celled, superior; 

 ovnln erect ; styles 2 or 3, cohering at the base. Fruit membranous or tiesliy, indeliiscent 

 or opening internully, often deformed by the al)ortion of some of tlie parts. Seeds ascend. 

 ing, roundish, witli a bony testa; hilum large, truncate; albumen none; cotyledons tliick. 

 — Shrubs. Leaves opposite, pinnate, with botli common and partial stipulae. Flowers in 

 terminal, stalked racemes. 



Affinities. Combined with Celastrineef hy Dccandolle, but distin- 

 guished by Ad. Brongniart {Mem. sur Ics Ehamm'cs, p. 16.), this order 

 appears to me to be essentially characterised l)y its opposite pinnated stipu- 

 late leaves, and to indicate an affinity between Celastrinea) and Sapindaceoe. 



Geography. The very few species which belong here are irregularly 

 scattered over the face of the globe. Of the genus Staphylea, 1 is found in 

 Europe, 1 in North America, 1 in Japan, 2 in Jamaica, 1 in Peru; and of 

 Turpinia, 1 is Mexican, and 1 East Indian. 



Properties. Unknown. 



ExaTmpt.es. Staphylea, Turpinia. 



