22.' 



CCVI. MYRSINE^. 



Ophiosperma, Vent. Jard. Cels. 80. (1800) — Myrsine^e, R. Broivn Prodr. 532. (1810.) 



Diagnosis. Monopetalous arborescent dicotyledons, with regular flowers, 

 an entire superior l-celled ovarium with a free central placenta, and indehis- 

 cent fleshy fruit. 



Anomalies. iEgiceras has no albumen, and the cells of its anthers are 

 cellular. 



Essential Character — Flowers hermaphrodite or polygamous. Calyx 4- or 5- 

 clel't, persistent. Corolla monopetalous, hypogynous, 4-5-cleft, equal. Stamens 4-5, oppo- 

 site the segments of the corolla ! into the bases of which they are inserted ; filaments dis- 

 tinct, rarely connate, sometimes wanting, sometimes 5 sterile petaloid alternate ones ; 

 anthers attached by tlieir emarginate base, with 2 cells, dehiscing longitudinally. Ovarium 

 I, with a single cell in a free central placenta, in the midst of which is immersed a definite 

 or indefinite numl)er of peltate ovula ; style 1, often very short ; stigma lobed or undivided, 

 /"rw!^ fleshy, mostly 1-seeded, sonietimes 2-4-seeded. Seeds peltate, with a hollow hilum 

 and a simple integument ; albumen horny, of the same shape as the seed ; embryo lying 

 across the hilum, taper, usually curved ; cotyledons short ; radicle., if se^'eral seeds ripen, 



inferior. Plumula inconspicuous Trees or shrubs. Leaves alternate, undivided, ser- 



rated or entire, coriaceous, smooth ; sometimes under-shrabs, with opposite or ternate 

 leaves. Inflorescence in umbels, corymbs, or panicles, axiUary, seldom terminal. Flowers 

 small, white or red, often marked with sunken dots or glandular lines. 



Affinities. Scarcely different from Primulacese, except in their ar- 

 borescent habit and fleshy fruit ; the embryo always lies across the hilum, 

 and the stamens are opposite the lobes of the corolla, as in that order ; add to 

 which, the connivence of the anthers in a cone, which is frequent in Primu- 

 lacese, is common in Myrsinese also. Mr. Brown remarks (1. c), that the 

 order is related to Sapotese through Jacquinia, and to Primulacege through 

 Bladhia. The immersion of the ovules in a fleshy placenta is a peculiar 

 character of this tribe. 



Geography. Tropical plants without exception, and common both in 

 India and America ; but " no species has been met with in equinoctial Africa, 

 though several exist both at the Cape of Good Hope and in the Canary 

 Islands." Brown Congo, 465. 



Properties. Almost unknown. Generally handsome shrubs, with flne 

 evergreen leaves. Bread is said to be prepared from the pounded seeds of 

 Theophrasta Jussieei in St. Domingo, where it is called Le Petit Coco. 

 Hamilt. Prodr. p. 27. 



Examples. Ardisia, Embelia, Myrsine. 



CCVII. PRIMULACE^. The Primrose Tribe. 



Lysimachi.e, Juss. Gen. 9b. (1789) — Primulace^, Vent. Tabl. 2. 285. (1799); 

 R. Brown Prodr. 427- (1810) ; Lindl. Synops. 182. (1820.) 



Diagnosis. Monopetalous herbaceous dicotyledons, with regular flowers, 

 an entire superior l-celled ovarium with a free central placenta, and capsular 

 fruit. 



Anomalies. Samolus has the ovarium half inferior, and 5 sterile sta- 

 mens, Glaux is apetalous. 



Essential Character Calyx divided, 5-cleft, seldom 4-cleft, inferior, regular, 



persistent. Corolla monopetalous, liypogynous, regular ; the limb 5-cleft, seldom 4-cleft. 

 Stamens inserted upon the corolla, equal in number to its segments, and opposite them ! 



Q 



