139 



they are widely different from Rhamneoe or Celastrinese, but without point- 

 ing out their real affinity ; Decandolle places them between Polygaleae and 

 Frankeniaceae ; according to Achille Richard they are very near Rutacese, 

 to which he thinks them allied by a crowd of characters. 



Geography. Chiefly New Holland plants. A few are found in 

 Africa and the adjacent islands, and 1 in Nipal. Mr. Brown remarks 

 that Pittosporum itself has been found not only in New Holland, but also 

 in New Zealand, Norfolk Island, the Society and Sandwich Islands, the 

 Moluccas, China, Japan, and even Madeira. Flinders, 542. 



Properties. The wood of Senacia undulata is handsomely veined, 

 whence it is called in the Mauritius Bois de joli cceur, Dec. The berries 

 of Billardiera are eatable. The bark of Pittosporum Tobira has a resinous 

 smell. Nothing is known of the properties of any. 



Examples. Billardiera, Pittosporum, Bursaria. 



CXXII. GERANIACE^. The Geranium Tribe. 



Gerania, Juss. Gen. 268. (1789). — Geraniace^, Dec. Fl. Fr. 4. 828. (1805) ; Prodr. 

 i. 637- (1824); Lmdl. Synops. 56. (1829.) 



Diagnosis. Polypetalous dicotyledons, with definite monadelphous 

 hypogynous stamens, concrete carpella, an entire ovarium of several cells, 

 an imbricated calyx, symmetrical flowers, sohtary pendulous ovules, and 

 carpella adhering to a woody axis, separating with elasticity and curling 

 back. 



Anomalies. Petals none in Rhyncotheca, which also has albumen. 

 Flowers sometimes irregular. 



Essential Character Sepals 5, persistent, more or less unequal, with an im- 

 bricated aestivation ; 1 sometimes saccate or spurred at the base. Petals 5, seldom 4 in 

 consequence of 1 being abortive, unguiculate, equal or unequal, either hypogynous or 

 perigynous. Stamens usually monadelphous, hypogynous, twice or thrice as many as the 

 petals ; some occasionally abortive. Ovarium composed of 5 pieces placed round an elevated 

 axis, each 1 -celled, 1 -seeded ; ovula pendulous ; styles 5, cohering round the elongated axis. 

 Fruit formed of 5 pieces, cohering round a lengthened indurated axis ; each piece consist- 

 ing of 1 cell, containing 1 seed, having a membranous pericarpium, and terminated by an 

 indurated style, which finally curls back from the base upwards, carrying the pericarpium 

 along with it. Seeds solitary, pendulous, without albumen. Embryo curved ; radicle 



pointing to the base of the cell; cotyledons foliaceous, convolute, and plaited Herbaceous 



plants or shrubs. Stems tumid, and separable at the joints. Leaves either opposite or 

 alternate ; in the latter case opposite the peduncles. 



Affinities. In many points nearly related to Oxalidese, Balsamineae, 

 and Tropseoleee, with which they are by some botanists associated. They 

 are, however, distinguished by the peculiar dehiscence of the fruit, their 

 stems with tumid joints, their convolute plaited cotyledons, and habit. 

 In the arrangement of their carpella about an elevated axis they agree 

 with all those orders formerly comprehended under the common name of 

 Rutacese, from which the length of that axis, and many other characters, 

 distinguish them. Their analogy with Vites is pointed out in speaking of 

 that order. In many respects they border close upon Malvaceae. 



Geography. Very unequally distributed over various parts of the 

 world. A great proportion is found in the Cape of Good Hope, chiefly 

 of the genus Pelargonium; Erodium and Geranium are principally natives of 

 Europe, North America, and Northern Asia, and Rhyncotheca of South 

 America. It is remarkable that Pelarsonium is found in New Holland. 



Properties. An astringent principle and an aromatic or resmous 

 flavour are the characteristics of this order. The stem of Geranium spi- 



