IIG 



is dilated 'into a spon^ excrescence; embryo very large, constittiting nearly the wliole 

 of the almond-like substance of the nut, with a long 2-cdged cauliculus, having two 

 small cotyledons at the top, and lying in a furrow of the radicle — Trees. Leaves opposite, 

 stalked, compound, without stipula?. Flotrers racemose. 



Affinities. A very distinct order, related on the one hand to Ana- 

 cardiaceee, and particularly to Mangifera, but perhaps rather to be associated 

 with Sapindacepe, in consideration of its hypogynous floN^eis and its fruit ; in 

 some measure also related to Hippocastanese on account of its opposite com- 

 pound palmate leaves ; but in Hippocastaneas the radicle is small, and the 

 cotyledons very large, while in Rhizobolefe the radicle is enlarged, and the 

 cotyledons small. In both orders the albumen seems to be absorbed by 

 the various parts of the embryo. Decand. Prodr. 1 . 599. 



Geography. Six large trees found in the forests of the hottest parts 

 of South America constitute the whole of the order. 



Properties. Some of them are known for producing the .Souari 

 (vulgo Suv/arrow) Nuts, or Brazil Nuts of the shops, the kernel of which 

 is one of the most delicious fruits of the nut kind that is known. An oil is 

 extracted from them not inferior to that of the Olive. 



Example. Caryocar. 



C. SAPINDACE^. The Soap-Tree Tribe. 



Sapindi, Juss. Gen. 24G. (1789) Sapindace^., Juss. Ann. Muss. 18. 476. (1811); 



Dec. Prodr. 1. 601. (1824.) 



Diagnosis. Polypetalous dicotyledons, with hypogynous definite sta- 

 mens irregularly arranged upon a disk, concrete carpella, an ovarium of 

 several cells with the placentae in the axis, an imbricated calyx, unsymme- 

 trical flowers, petals usutdly with some interior appendage, and very unequal 

 sepals. 



Anomalies. In Tina the flowers appear to be symmetrical. Stadman- 

 nia, Amirola, and Dodonaea, have no petals. 



Essential Character Sepals 4 or 5, either distinct or cohering at the base; 



(Bslivution imbricate. Petals generally equal in niunber to the sepals, occasionally one 

 less, very rarely none, hy])ogynous ; sometimes naked, sometimes villous or glandular 

 in the middle, soiuetimes with an interior petaloid scale. Stamens irregularly ar- 

 ranged, disiiiict, ddulilc the numtier of the petals, inserted on a hypogynous glandular 

 disk. Ortirium roundish ; sli/le 1 or '.i; ovula arising from the middle of the axis, definite 

 ((roUaterai), ascending. Fruit drupaceous or capsular,' ;i-celled, or by abortion 1- or 2- 

 celled. Seeds solitary, attached to the axis, without albumen ; embryo with the radicle 

 pointing towards the l)ase of the cell ; cotyledons more or less curved u])on the radicle, 



occasionally straight Erect or clindjing trees or s/irubs, very seldom herbaceous pl'dnts. 



Leaves alternate, often compound, having frequently pellucid lines or dots. 



Affinities. Very near Meliaceae, which agree in habit and in their 

 pinnated leaves, but which arc known by their monadelplious stamens and 

 symmetrical flowers. To Poiygaleac they are no doubt akin in the singular 

 combination of 8 stamens with 5 unecjual sepals, and an uncertain number 

 of petals ; and also in.thcir ariilus, which may be compared to the caruncula 

 of Polygaleie, although somewhat diiicrcnt in its origin. The dried leaves 

 resemble, as Decandolle remarks, those of ConnaraccBc. Their climbing 

 habit and tendency to produce tendrils indicate a relation to Vites, which, 

 however, is not very near. Mr. Brown remarks, that although in the far 

 greater part of this family the ovulum is erect and the radicle of the embryo 



