158 



they are distinguished by their different placentation, and by the form of 

 their embryo ; toLinese, from which they are known by their unilocular fruit; 

 and on the other to Violacese, which differ in having a loculicidal, not 

 septicidal, dehiscence. Their habit is that of Amarantaceae and Illecebreae, 

 from which their petals and compound fruit divide them. 



Geography. This order is chiefly found in the north of Africa and 

 south of Europe. Two species are natives of the Cape, of Good Hope, 1 of 

 South America, 4 of New Holland, and 3 of temperate Asia. None have 

 been found in tropical India or North America. 



Properties. Unknown. 



Example. Frankenia. 



CXLII. TAMARISCINE^. The Tamarisk Tribe. 



Tamariscine/z, Desvaux, in a Dissertation read before the French Institute {in 1815), 

 according to the Ann. Sc. Nat. 4. 344. (1825); A. St. Hil. Mem. Mas. 2. 205. 

 (1816) ; Ehrenb. in Annales des Sciences, 12. 68. (182?) ; Dec. Prodr. 3. 95. (1828) ; 

 Lindl. Synops. 61. (1829). 



Diagnosis. Polypetalous dicotyledons, with definite hypogynous sta- 

 mens, concrete carpella, a 1 -celled ovarium with placentse at the base, no 

 stipulge, shrubby stems, comose seeds, and a 4- or 5-parted calyx. 



Anomalies. 



Essential Character. — Calyx 4- or 5-parted, persistent, with an imbricated 

 aestivation. Petals inserted into the base of the calyx, witliering, with an imbricated aesti- 

 vation. Stamens hypogynous, either equal to the petals in number, or twice as many, dis- 

 tinct or monadelphous. Ovarium superior ; style very short ; stigmata 3. Capsule 3-vaIved, 

 1-celled, many-seeded ; placentce 3, either at the base of the cavity, or along the middle of 

 the valves. Seeds erect or ascending, comose ; albumen none ; embryo straight, with an 

 inferior radicle — Shrubs or herbs, with rod-like branches. Leaves alternate, resembling 

 scales, entire. Flowers in close spikes or racemes. 



Affinities. According to Decandolle (Prodr. 3. 95.), who places the 

 order among those with perigynous stamens, related to Portulaceoe (or Ille- 

 cebrese), on account of the resemblance between their flowers and those 

 of Telephium ; but they differ in their parietal exalbuminous comose seeds. 

 Also allied to Lythrariae and Onagrarias, but differing from the former in 

 the imbricated aestivation, the petals arising from the bottom of the calyx, 

 and parietal seeds; and from the latter in their superior ovarium, and the 

 imbricated aestivation of the calyx. Dr. Ehrenberg asserts the order to have 

 hypogynous stamens {Ann. des Sc. 12, 77.), and this agrees with my own 

 observations. The same botanist, in separating the Taniarix songarica of 

 Willdenow from Tamariscineyo, and referring it to the vicinity of Reaumuria, 

 establishes the affinity of Tamariscineae to the order of Reaumurieae. Its 

 true station appears to me to be next Fran ken iaceae. 



Geography. Exclusively confined to the northern hemisphere, and 

 even to its eastern half, that is, to the old world, on which they extend as 

 far as the Cape de Verds. They usually grow by the sea-side, but occasion- 

 ally by the edges of rivers and torrents. The maximum of species and of 

 individuals also is found in the basin of the Mediterranean. The order 

 appears bounded on the south by the 8° or 9° parallel of N. lat., and on 

 the north by that of 50° and 55° in Siberia, Germany, and England. 

 Ehreiib. 



Properties. The bark is slightly bitter, astringent, and probably tonic. 

 T. gallica and africana are remarkable for the quantity of sulphate of soda 



