21 



from all other Dicotyledons. They resemble the Capparidese with fleshy fruit 

 in a number of particulars ; and M. Decandolle indicates an approach to Pas- 

 sifloreae : this chiefly depends upon both orders having parietal placentae, and 

 the presence of a series of barren stamina, analogous to the corona of Passi- 

 floreoe. They have also some relation to Samydeee. 



Geography. Almost all natives of the hottest parts of the East and West 

 Indies, and Africa. Two or three species are found at the Cape of Good 

 Hope, and one or perhaps two in New Zealand. 



Properties. Nothing is known of their sensible qualities. The fruit of 

 some of the Flacourtias is eatable and wholesome ; that of Hydnocarpus 

 venenata is used in Ceylon for poisoning fish, which afterwards become so 

 unwholesome as to be unfit for food. 



Decandolle has the following tribes (prodr. 1. 255.) ; 



1. Patrisieje. 



Flowers hermaphrodite, apelalous. Sepals 5, coloured inside, persistent. 

 Stamens indefinite. Fruit capsular or berried. Dec. It is to be suspected 

 that this tribe really belongs to Passifloreae, on account of its affinity to Smeath- 

 mannia ; but their seeds are smooth, not pitted, and the placentae do not occupy 

 lines, but are spread over the whole surface. Ibid. 



Examples. Ryanaea. Patrisia. 



2. Flacourtie;e. 



Flowers dioecious, apetalous. Stamens indefinite. Fruit baccate, inde- 

 hiscent. Dec. 



Examples. Flacourtia, Roumea. 



3. Kiggelarie^;. 



Flowers dioecious, Petals 1 5, alternate with the sepals. Stamens definite. 

 Fruit somewhat baccate, finally dehiscing. Dec. 

 Examples. Kiggelaria, Melicytus. 



4. ErYTHROSPERME.SE. 



Flowers hermaphrodite. Petals and stamens 5-7. Fruit indehiscent, some- 

 what baccate. 



Example. Erythrospermum. 



XIII. ANONACEiE. The Custard Apple Tribe. 



Anonjb, Juss. Gen. 283. (1789.)— Anonace*, Rich. Anal. Fr. 17. (1808); Dunal Monogr. 

 (1817); Dec. S'jst. 1. 462. (1818); Prodr. 1. 83. (1824.)— Glyptospermve, Vent. Tubl. 3. 

 75.(1799). 



Diagnosis. Polypetalous dicotyledons, with hypogynous stamens, anthers 

 bursting by longitudinal slits, numerous distinct simple carpella, exstipulate 

 leaves, and ruminated albumen. 



Anomalies. Monodora has a solitary carpellum. In Anona palustris the 

 ovaria are not distinct. Rollinia has the petals united. Stamens and carpella 

 definite in Bocagea. 



Essential Character. — Sepals 3-4, persistent, usually partially cohering. Petals 6, hypo- 

 gynous, in two rows, coriaceous, with a valvular {estivation. Stamens indefinite, covering - a 

 lare-e hypogynous torus, packed closely together, very rarely definite. Filaments short, more 

 or les3 angular. Anthers adnate, turned outwards, with an enlarged 4-cornered connecti- 

 vum, which is sometimes nectariferous. Ovaria usually numerous, closely packed, separate 

 or cohering, occasionally definite. Styles short ; stigmata simple ; omda solitary, or a small 

 number, erect or ascending. Fruit consisting of a number of carpella, which are either 

 succulent or dry, sessile or stalked, 1- or many-seeded, distinct or concrete into a fleshy mass. 

 Seeds attached to the suture in one or two rows; testa brittle ; embryo minute, in the base of 

 hard, fleshy, ruminate albumen. -'Frees or shrubs. Leaves alternate, simple, almost always 

 entire, without stipube. Floicers usually green or brown, axillary, solitary, or 2 or 3 together, 

 shorter than the leaves; the peduncles of abortive flowers sometimes indurated, enlarged, 

 and hooked. 



