43 



former are almost always cither destitute of albumen, or furnished with a mem- 

 branous wing ; the latter have neither the one nor the other. The first have 

 the radicle always near the hilum; the second have it either near the hilum 

 or turned in an opposite direction. Finally, in Guttiferae the cotyledons are 

 very thick, and firmly glued together; and this character, which is not ob- 

 served in Ternstromlaceae, is the more important, as it is not liable to any 

 exception Ternstrdmiacefce are allied to Hyperecincae through the medium of 

 < 'arpodontos, a genus which, with the foliage of the latter order, has the fruit 

 of the former ; and also of certain plants of Ilypericinea-, which, according to 

 Cambessedes, have a definite number of seeds. With Marcgraaviaceae they 

 agree through Norantea, which has the stamens slightly adherent to the base 

 Of the petals, and fixed anthers ; but that order is entirely different in habit, 

 and is well marked by its singular cucullate bractea?, its fruit, and its wingless 

 exalbuminous seeds. Many genera of Temstromiaceae, such as Kielmeyera 

 and others, have the habit of Tiliaceae, while the fruit of Laplacea is strikingly 

 like that of Luhea ; hut the aestivation of the calyx and many other characters 

 distinguish them. 



Geography. Although the plants of this order which are known in 

 European gardens are chiefly from China or North America, these form but an 

 inconsiderable part of the whole : 7 or 8 are all that are contained in the first 

 of these countries, and 4 in the latter ; while between 60 and 70, all beautiful 

 trees or shrubs, are natives of the woods of South America ; about a score are 

 known in the East Indies, and one in Africa. 



Properties. These are ill understood, but little being known of the greater 

 part of the species. The tea which is so extensively consumed by Europeans 

 is produced by different species of Thea and Camellia. An excellent table oil 

 is expressed from the seeds of Camellia oleifera. The different species and 

 varieties of Camellia japonica are the glory of gardeners. The fruit of a species 

 of Saurauja is said to be acidulous, and to resemble Tomatoes in flavour. Dec. 

 The leaves of Kielmeyera speciosa are employed in Brazil for fomentations, 

 for which they are well adapted, on account of the mucilage with which they 

 abound. PI. Us. 58. It. is believed in Brazil, that a decoction of the roots of 

 a plant called Butua do curro (Wittelsbachia insignis Mart., Maximilianea 

 regia Ibid., Cochlospermum insigne Aug. St. H.) has the power of healing 

 internal abscesses. The Brazilians take it for all kinds of internal bruises. 

 PL Us. 57. 



Examples. Thea, Gordonia, Saurauja, Ternstromia. 



XXXIII. LEGYTHIDE7E. 



Lecythides, Richard MSS. Poiteau Mem. Mus. 13. 141. (1825); Dec. Prodr. 3. 290. (1828); 

 a sect. of. Myrtacesei Ach. Richard in Ann. des Sc. 1. 321. (1824.) 



Diagnosis. Polypetalous dicotyledons, with indefinite perigynous stamens, 

 concrete carpella, an inferior ovarium of several cells, round anthers, indefinite 

 ovula, and exalbuminous seeds. 



Anomalies. Ovula sometimes definite. 



Essential Characteh. — Calyx superior, 2- t" 6-leavcd, or urceolate, with a divided limb; 

 EesUvation valvate or imbricated. Corolla consisting of 6 petals, sometimes cohering- at the 

 l>:i*p, with an imbricated restivation. Stamens: indefinite, epigynous, either connected into a 

 pctaloid cucullate unilateral body, or monadclphous at the base. Ovarium inferior, 2- to 

 /-celled; orula indefinite, or definite attached to the axis; stigma simple. Fruit a woody 

 capsule, cither opening with a lid, or remaining closed. Seeds several, covered by a thick 

 integument; embryo without albumen, cither undivided or with two large plaited leafy or 

 fleshy cotyledons, sometimes folded upon the radicle, which is next the hilum.— Large trees, 

 with alternate entire or toothed leaves, with minute deciduous stipulsc, and without pellucid 

 dots. Floxcers large, showy, terminal, solitary, or racemose. 



