243 



Essential Character — Calyx inferior, 5-parted, imbricated in aestivation. Co- 

 rolla monopetalous, tubular, with as many segments of its limb as the calyx, with an im- 

 bricated aestivation. Stamens alternate with the segments of the corolla, and equal to them 

 in number, arising from the bottom of the tube; anthers innate ; pollen minute, elliptical. 

 Ovarium simple, seated in an annular disk, 2- or more celled ; style terminal ; stigma simple, 

 2-lobed ; ovales suspended. Fruit drupaceous, with as many stems as there are true cells 

 of the ovarium. Seed suspended, solitary ; testa simple, thin ; embryo in the midst of thin 



fleshy albumen ; radicle superior ; cotyledons plano-convex Trees or shrubs, with a harsh 



pubescence. Leaves simple, alternate, without stipules. Flotvers corymbose. 



Affinities. Another branch of the old Boragineae, distinguished by a 

 terminal style proceeding from the apex of a perfectly concrete ovarium of 4 

 cells, a baccate fruit, and seeds furnished with thin fleshy albumen. Of these 

 characters I conceive the former to be good, and the latter bad ; and the 

 order itself, which I adopt upon the authority of Dr. Von Martius, hardly 

 tenable, differing from Heliotropicese chiefly in its succulent (not dry) sepa- 

 rable fruit. 



Geography. Tropical trees or shrubs, natives of either hemisphere. 



Properties. The root of Ehretia buxifolia is reckoned in India one 

 of those medicines which assist in altering and purifying the habit in cases 

 of cachexia and venereal affections of long standing. Ainslie, 2. 81. 



Examples. Ehretia, Tournefortia, Rhabdia, Beurreria ? 



CCXXV. CORDIACE^. 



R. Brotcn Prodr. 492. (1810), ivithout a name ; Martius N. G. et Sp. 2. 138. (1828), 

 tvithout a name Cordiace^e, Link Handb.l. 669. (1829) Arguzi^e, ib. 



Diagnosis. Monopetalous dicotyledons, with regular flowers, a supe- 

 rior 4-celled ovarium with solitary pendulous ovules, 5 stamens, and exalbu- 

 minous seeds with plaited shrivelled cotyledons. 



Anomalies. 



Essential Character — Calyx inferior, 5-toothed. Corolla monopetalous, with 

 the limb in 5 divisions. Stamens alternate with the segments of the corolla, out of which 

 they arise; anthers versatile. Ovarium superior, 4-celled, with 1 pendulous ovulum in 

 each cell ; style continuous ; stigma 4-cleft, with recurved segments. Fruit drupaceous, 4- 

 celled; part of the cells frequently abortive. Seed pendulous from the apex of the cells by 

 a long funiculus, upon which it is turned back; embryo inverted, with the cotyledons plaited 



longitudinally; albumen Trees. Leaves alternate, scabrous, without stipulae, of a 



hard harsh texture. Flotvers panicled, with minute bracteae. 



Affinities. The plaited cotyledons and dichotomous style first induced 

 the separation of this order from Boraginese, with which it was formerly 

 associated, chiefly, it is to be supposed, on account of the roughness of the 

 leaves. Von Martius well remarks, that it is in fact much nearer Convolvu- 

 lacese, from, which it differs in its inverted embryo and drupaceous fruit. 

 Nov. Gen. I. c. 



Geography. Natives of the tropics of both hemispheres. 



Properties. The flesh of their fruit is succulent, mucilaginous, and 

 emollient, as is seen in the Sebesten Plums, the produce of Cordia Myxa and 

 Sebestena. 



Examples. Cordia, Geraschanthus, Cerdana, Varronia, Cordiopsis, 

 Menais. 



