151 



and simple branched or multifid at the apex. Capsule 3-valvcd, 1-celled, opening from 

 the point about as far as the middle, the valves bearing the placenta? in the middle. Seeds 

 with a thin membranons arillus on one side, crustaceous, reticulated; embryo slightly 

 curved, in the middle of fleshy albumen; radicle turned towards the hilum; cotyledons 



somewhat plano-convex Herbaceous plants, having sometimes a tendency to become 



shrubby, with a simple pubescence, which does not sting. Leaves alternate, simple, with- 

 out stipulfe, with occasiimally 2 glands at the apex of the petiole. Flowers axillary, their 

 pedicel either distinct or cohering with the petiole; with 2 bracteolae. Pete/s yellowish, 

 rarely blue. 



Affinities. Placed by Decandolle between Loasese and Fouquiera- 

 ceee, chiefly, it should seem, on account of its manifest relation to the 

 former, and its perigynous stamens. To me it appears that those botanists 

 are right who place it in the vicinity of Cistinese, from which it differs more 

 in the insertion of the stamens, and in the approximation of the radicle to 

 the hilum, than in any other character, agreeing with them very much in 

 habit. With Malvaceee they agree in the twisted aestivation of the corolla, 

 and in habit. With Loasese and Passiflorese they have also much in com- 

 mon ; and the circumstance of their certain relationship to Cistinese gives 

 great weight to the ingenious approximation, by M. Du Petit Thouars, of 

 Passiflorese to Violacese. The presence of glands upon the ends of the 

 petioles of Turneracese is a confirmation of their affinity to the former. 

 They are distinguished from Loaseae by their fruit being superior and 1- 

 celled, with parietal placentas, and by their definite stamens; the former 

 character is, however, weakened by the nearly superior fruit of some 

 Loasese. 



Geography. Natives exclusively of the West Indies and South Ame- 

 rica. There seems no good reason for supposing Turnera trioniflora to be a 

 native of Japan. 



Properties. Unknown. 



Examples. Turnera, Piriqueta. 



CXXXIV. CISTINE^. The Rock-Rose Tribe. 



CiSTi, Juss. Gen. 294. (1789) — Cistoide^, Vent. Tabl. 3. 219. (1799). — Cistine^, 

 Dec. Prodr. 1. 263. (1824); Lindl. Synops. 36. (1829). 



Diagnosis. Polypetalous dicotyledons, with indefinite hypogynous sta- 

 mens, concrete carpella, a 1-celled ovarium with narrow parietal placentce, 

 5 sepals, and an inverted embryo. 



Anomalies. 



Essential Character Sepals 5, continuous with the pedicel, persistent, unequal, 



the three inner with a twisted sestivation. Petals 5, hypogynous, very fugitive, crumpled 

 in aestivation, and twisted in a direction contrary to that of the sepals. Stamens indefi- 

 nite, hypogynous, distinct; anthers innate. Ovarium distinct, 1- or many-celled; ovula 

 with the foramen at their apex ; style single ; stigma simple. Fruit capsular, usually 

 3- or 5-valved, occasionally 10-valved, either 1-celled with parietal placentaj in the axis 

 of the valves, or imperfectly 5- or 10-celled with dissepiments proceeding from the middle 

 of the valves, and touching each other in the centre. Seeds indefinite in number. 

 Embryo inverted, either spiral or curved in the midst of mealy albumen — Shrubs or 

 herbaceous plants. Branches often viscid. Leaves usually entire, opposite or alternate, 

 stipulate or exstipulate. Racemes usually unilateral. Flowers white, yellow, or red, very 

 fugacious. 



Affinities. Distinguished from Violacese, with which they were for- 

 merly confounded, by their indefinite stamens and inverted embryo ; from 

 Bixineee by this last character, by their mealy albumen, habit, and not 

 having the leaves ever dotted ; from Hypericineae by the latter character, 

 and the structure of their fruit. 



