117 



inferior, yet it includes more than one genus in which both the seeds and 

 embryo are inverted. Congo, 427. (1818.) 



Geography. Natives of most parts of the tropics, but esi^ecially of 

 South America and India ; the tribe called Paulliniese is most abundant in 

 the former, and Sapindese in the latter region. Africa knows many of them, 

 but they are wanting in the cold regions of the north. None are found in 

 Europe or the United States of America. Dodonscas represent the order in 

 New Holland. 



Properties. It is singular that while the leaves and branches of many 

 of these plants are unquestionably poisonous, the fruit of others is valuable 

 as an article of the dessert. Thus the Longan, the Litchi, and the Ram- 

 butan, fruits among the most delicious of the Indian archipelago, are the 

 produce of different species of Euphoria. The fruit of Schmidelia edulis is 

 known at desserts in Brazil under the name of Fruta de parao ; it is said to 

 have a sweet and pleasant taste. PL Us. 67. That of Sapindus esculentus 

 is very fleshy, and much esteemed by the inhabitants of Certao, by whom it 

 is called Pittomba. Ibid. 68. Some species of Paullinia are stated, upon 

 various authorities, to be poisonous, especially the P. australis, to which 

 principally M. Auguste de St. Hilaire attributes the poisonous quality of the 

 Lecheguana honey. Ed. P. J. 14. 269. The arillus of Paullinia subrotunda 

 and of Blighia sapida is eatable. The leaves of Magonia pubescens and gla- 

 brata, called. Tinguy in Brazil, are used for stupifying fishes ; their bark is 

 employed for healing sores in horses caused by the stings of insects. A. St. 

 HiL Hist, des PL 238. The fruit of Sapindus saponaria is saponaceous. 

 The root of Cardiospermum halicacabum is aperient. Ainslie, 2. 204. 



Examples. Sapindus, Blighia, Paullinia. 



CI. ACERINEiE. The Sycamore Tribe. 



AcERA, Jiiss. Gen. 50. (1789); Ann. Mus. 18. 477. (1811) — Acerine.^, Dec. TMorie, 

 ed. 2. 244. (1819); Prodr. 1. 593. (1824); Liudl. Synops. 55. (1829.) 



Diagnosis. Polypetalous dicotyledons, with distinct hypogynous defi- 

 nite stamens, concrete carpella, an ovarium of several cells with the placentse 

 in the axis, an imbricated calyx, unsymmetrical flowers, definite erect ovules, 

 undivided petals without appendages, and indehiscent winged fruit. 



Anomalies. The leaves of Negundium are compound. 



Essential Character Cali/x divided into 5, or occasionally from 4 to 9 parts, 



with an imbricate estivation. Petals equal in number to the lobes of the calyx, inserted 

 round a hypo^nous disk. Stamens inserted upon a hypogynous disk, generally 8, not 

 often any other number, always definite. Ovarium 2-lobed ; style 1 ; stipmas 2. Fruit 

 formed of two parts, which are indehiscent and winged; each 1-celled, with 1 or 2 seeds. 

 Seeds erect, with a thickened lining to the testa ; albumen none ; embryo curved, with 



foliaceous wrinkled co^y/er/ons, and an inferior rwrfic/p Trees. Leaves opposite, simple, 



rarely pinnate, without stipules. Flowers often polygamous, sometimes apetalous, in 

 axillary corymbs or racemes. 



Affinities. Related closely to Malpighiac^ee in their winged fruit, to 

 Sapindacese in the pinnate leaves of two species, and the unsymmetrical 

 flowers of the whole. 



Geography. Europe, the north of India, and North America, are the 

 stations of this order, which is unknown in Africa and the soutliern hemi- 

 sphere. 



