128 



superior simple ovarium, solitary exalbuminous seeds, and alternate exsli.- 

 pulate leaves without pellucid dots. 



Anomalies. There is, according to Mr. Brown {Congo, 431.), an 

 unpublished genus of this order, with ovarium inferior. The stamens of 

 Melanorhsea are indefinite and hypogynous. 



Essential Character. — Flotcers usually unisexual. Calyx usually small and 

 persistent, with 5, or occasionally 3-4, or 7 divisions. Petals equal- in number to the seg- 

 ments of the calyx, perigynous, (occasionally wanting,) imbricated in aestivation. Slameiis 

 equal in number to the petals and alternate with them, or twice as many or even more, 

 equal or alternately shorter, or partly sterile ;Jilameiits distinct, or in the genera without a 

 disk cohering at the base. Di^k fleshy, annular or cup .shaped, liypogA'nous, occasionally 

 wanting. Ovarium single, very rarely 5 or G, of which 4 or 3 are abortive, superior, (very 

 rarely inferior), 1 -celled ; styles 1 or 3, occasionally 4, sometimes none ; stigmas as many; 

 oviilum solitary, attached by a cord to the bottom of the cell. Fruit indehiscent, most 

 commonly drupaceous. Seed without albumen ; radicle either superior or inferior, but 

 always directed towards the hilum, sometimes curved suddenly back ; cotyledons thick and 



fleshy, or leafy Trees or shrubs, with a resinous, gummy, caustic, or even milky juice. 



Leaves alternate, simple, or ternate or unequally pinnate, without pellucid dots. Flowers 

 terminal or axillary, with bracteae. 



Affinities. The order called Terebintaceae by Jussieu and many 

 other botanists has been broken up into several by Brown and Kunth, but 

 preserved entire by DecandoUe, who does not, however, appear to have 

 devoted particular attention to the subject. I follow the former botanists, 

 abandoning altogether the name Terebintaceae, which is about equally appli- 

 cable to either Anacardiacese, Burseracese, Connaracese, Spondiacese, or 

 Amyridese, the five orders which have been formed at its expense. All these 

 are nearly related to each other, and whatever affinity is borne by one of 

 them will be participated in by them all in a greater or less degree. They 

 are distinguished from Rhamneae by their resinous juice, superior ova- 

 rium, imbricated calyx, and stamens not opposite the petals ; from Celas- 

 trineae by several of the same characters, and want of albumen; from Rosaceae 

 and Leguminosae by their definite stamens, dotted leaves, very minute 

 stipulae if any, resinous juice, dotted leaves, solitary ovula, or by some one or 

 other of these characters. To Diosmeae they approach very nearly, and also to 

 Xanthoxyleae, from which some of them differ in their perigynous stamens. 

 Melanorhaea is remarkable for its indefinite stamens, and especially for its 

 hypogynous petals becoming enlarged, foliaceous, and deep red as the fruit 

 advances to maturity. 



Geography. Chiefly natives of tropical America, Africa, and India; 

 a few are found beyond the tropics, both to the north and the south. 

 Pistacias and some species of Rhus inhabit the south of Europe ; many of 

 the latter genus occupy stations in North America and Northern India, and 

 also at the Cape of Good Hope; Duvaua and Schinus inhabit exclusively 

 Chile and the adjacent districts. 



Properties. Large trees, with incons|)icuous flowers, abounding in 

 a resinous, sometimes acrid, highly poisonous juice, are the ordinary re- 

 presentatives of this order, to which belong the Cashew Nut, the Pistacia 

 Nut, and the Mango fruit. Some trees are celebrated for yielding a 

 clammy juice, which afterwards turns black, and is used for varnishing in 

 India. One kind is from the common Cashew nut. The varnish of Sylliet 

 is chiefly procured from Semecarpus anacardium, the marking nut-tree 

 of commerce ; and the varnish of Martaban from a plant called by Dr. 

 Wallich Melanorhaea usitatissima. All these varnishes are extremely 

 dangerous to some constitutions; the skin, if rul)bed with them, inflames 

 and becomes covered with |)implcs that are difficult to heal ; the fumes 

 have been known to produce a painful swelling and inflammation of the 



