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CIX. SPONDIACEtE. The Hogplum Tribe. 



Spovdiace.f., Kunth in Ann. Sc. Nat. 2. 3G2. (1824) — Terebintace^e, trib. 3. 

 Dec. Prodr. 2. 74. (1825.) 



Diagnosis. Polypetalous dicotyledons, with 10 perigynous stamens, 

 concrete carpella, a superior ovarium of several cells, regular flowers, an 

 annular disk, solitary pendulous ovula, and alternate pinnated leaves with 

 pellucid dots. 



Anomalies. 



EssEKTiAL Character — Floivers sometimes unisexual. Calyx 5-cleft, regular, 

 persistent or deciduous. Petals 5, inserted below a disk surrounding the ovarium, some- 

 what valvate or imbricate in ajstivation. Stamens 10, perigynous, arising from the same 

 part as the petals. Disk annular, in the males orbicular, with 10 indentations. Ovarium 

 superior, sessile, from 2- to 5-celled ; sti/les 5, very short ; stigmas obtuse ; ovulum 1 in 

 each cell, pendulous. Fruit drupaceous, 2-5-celled. Seeds without albumen ; cotyledons 

 plano-convex ; radicle superior, pointing to the hilum (inferior in Spondias, according 

 to Gartner) Trees without spines. Leaves alternate, unequally pinnate, without pel- 

 lucid dots, a ievf simple leaves occasionally intermixed. Stipules 0. Inflorescence axil- 

 lary and terminal in panicles or racemes. 



Affinities. Very near Anacardiaceas in the structure of their fruit, 

 which is almost that of Mangifera, except that it is compound and not 

 simple ; destitute, however, of the resinous juice of that order. They are 

 remarkable for the great development of their disk. 



Geography. Natives of the West Indies, the Society Islands, and the 

 Isle of Bourbon. 



Properties. The fruit of several species of Spondias is eatable in the 

 West Indies, where they are called Hog Plums. 



Example. Spondias. 



ex. CONNARACEiE. 



Terebintace.i, Juss. Gen. 3C8. (1789) in part — Connarace.e, R. Brown in Congo, 

 431. (1818); Kunth in Ann. Sc. Nat. 2. 359. (1824.) — Terebintace.e, trib. 7. 

 Dec. Prodr. 2. 84. (1825.) 



Diagnosis. Polypetalous dicotyledons, with definite hypogynous sta- 

 mens, anthers bursting by longitudinal slits, distinct simple carpella, ex- 

 stipulate leaves without pellucid dots, no albumen, and terminal stigmas. 



Anomalies. 



Essential Character — Floivers hermaphrodite, rarely unisexual. Calyx 5- 

 parted, regular, persistent ; wstivation eitber imbricate or valvular. Petals 5, inserted 

 on the calyx, imbricated, rarely valvate in aestivation. Stamens twice the number of 

 petals, hypogynous, those opposite the petals shorter than the others ; filaments usually 

 monadelphous. Ovarium solitary and simple, or several, each with a separate style and 

 stigma ; oxnila 2, coUateral, ascending ; styles terminal ; stigmas usually dilated. Fruit 

 dehiscent, single, or several together, splitting lengthwise internally. Seeds erect, in 

 pairs or solitary, with or without albumen, often with an arillus ; radicle superior, at 

 the extremity opposite the hilum ; cotyledons thick in the species without albumen, 



foliaceous in those with albumen Trees or shrubs. Leaves compound, not dotted, 



alternate, without stipula;. Flowers terminal and axillary, in racemes or panicles, with 

 hracteae. 



Affinities. Connarus can only be distinguished from Leguminosae by 

 the relation the parts of its embryo have to the umbilicus of the seed, {Broivn 

 in Conr/o, 432.) ; that is to say, by the radicle being at the extremity most 



