110 



either distinct, or partly monadelphous ; anthers roimdisli. Ovarium 1, usually 3-Iobed 

 formed of 3 carpella, more or less combined ; stijles 3, distinct or combined • ovula sus- 

 pended. Fruit dry or berried, 3-celled or 3-lobed, occasionally 1- or 2-celled by abortion. 

 Seeds solitary, pendulous, without albumen ; embryo more or less curved, or straight • 

 radicle short; lobes leafy or tliickish — Small trees or shrubs, sometimes climbing. Leaves 

 opposite, scarcely ever alternate, simple, without dots, with stipul* mostly. Flowers in 

 racemes or corymbs. Pedicels articulated in the middle, with 2 minute bracteae. 



Affinities. Distinguished from Erythroxylese by the structure of the 

 ovarium ; and from Acerinese by the unguiculate petals, the glandular calyx, 

 and the symmetrical flowers. Mr. Brown remarks, that the insertion of the 

 ovulum is always towards its apex, or considerably above its middle ; and 

 the radicle of the embryo is uniformly superior, in which point Banisteria 

 offers no exception to the general structure, although Gsertner has described 

 its radicle as inferior. Congo, 426. 



GEOGRAniY. Almost exclusively found in the equinoctial parts of 

 America; of 180 species enumerated by Decandolle, only 5 are East Indian, 

 I is found at the Cape, 1 in Arabia, and 5 in equinoctial Africa, or the con- 

 tiguous islands. 



Properties. Little is known of this subject. The wood of some kinds 

 is bright red. The fruit of many is eaten in the West Indies ; the hairs 

 of a few species are painfully pungent. The bark of Malp. Moureila, accord- 

 ing to Aublet, is employed in Cayenne as a febrifuge. 



The following sections are employed by Decandolle : — 



1. MALPIGHIEiE. 



Styles 3, distinct or cohering in 1. Fruit fleshy, indehiscent. — Leaves 

 Opposite. 



Examples. Malpighia, Bunchozia. 



2. HiPTAGE.E. 



Style 1, or 3 combined in 1. Carpella of the fruit dry, indehiscent, 

 1-seeded, often variously expanded into wings. — Leaves opposite or ver- 

 ticillate. 



Examples. Hiptage, Thryallis, Aspicarpa. 

 3. Banisterie^. 



Styles 3, distinct. Carpella of the fruit dry, indehiscent, monospermous, 

 variously expanded into wings. — -Leaves opposite, rarely whorled. 



Examples. Hirsea, Banisteria. 



CIV. VITES. The Vine Tribe. 



ViTESjJuss. Gen. 26?. (1789) Sarmentace^e, Vent. Tail. 3. 1C7. (1799) — Vini- 



FERJE, Juss. Mem. Mus. 3. 444. (1817). — Ampelide^e, Kunth in Humboldt, 

 N. G. et Sp. 5. 223. (1821) ; Dec. Prodr. 1. 627- (1824.) 



Diagnosis. Polypetalous dicotyledons, with definite hypogynous sta- 

 mens, concrete carpella, an entire ovarium of 2 cells, a small almost entire 

 open calyx, symmetrical flowers, definite erect ovules, baccate fruit, tumid 

 joints, and a climbing habit. 



Anomalies. Leea and Lasianthera are monopetalous ; but it is doubt- 

 ful whether they belong to the order. 



Essential Ciiabacter Calyx small, nearly entire, at the edge. Petals 4 or 5, 



inserted on the outside of a disk surrounding the ovarium ; in aestivation turned inwards 

 at the edge, in a valvate manner. Stamens equal in number to the petals, inserted upon 

 the disk, sometimes sterile by abortion ; filaments distinct, or slightly cohering at the base ; 



