46 



Affinities. The station of this order is uncertain; it approaches Ebeno- 

 eeae in its monopetalous corolla cut round at the base, in the anthers attached 

 by their base, and the alternate leaves : Ericese in the anthers and disk of the 

 genus Antholoina: Hypericineae and Guttiferae in the hypogynous stamens, the 

 polypetalous corolla of some genera, placentation and numerous seeds ; where- 

 fore Jussieu stationed the order near Clusia. Dec. Proclr. 1. 565. (1824.) M. 

 Turpin has somewhere remarked, that the bracteae of this order offer a clear 

 explanation of the conversion of a degenerated leaf into an ovulum. 



Geography. All found in equinoctial America, except Antholoma, which 

 is a native of New Caledonia. 



Properties. Handsome and curious plants, remarkable for their singular 

 cucullate braeteee. Nothing is known of their qualities. 



M. Decandolle distinguishes 



Sub-order I. Marcgraavie;e. 



Corolla calyptriform. Stamens inserted in the receptacle. 



Sub-order IT. Noranteje. 



Petals 5. Stamens pressed close to the corolla, and as if inserted into it. 

 Examples Noiantea, Marcgraavia. 



XXXI. HYPERICINEiE. The Tutsan Tribe 



Hyperica, Juss. Gen.254. (1789)— Hypericineje, Chois. Prodr. Hyp. 32. (1821) ; Dec. Prodr. 

 1. 541. (1824) ; Lindl. Synops. p. 41. (1829.) 



Diagnosis. Polypetalous dicotyledons, with hypogynous indefinite sym- 

 metrical polyadelphous stamens, concrete carpella, an ovarium of several cells 

 with the placentae in the axis, an irregular calyx with imbricate aestivation, in- 

 definite seeds, resinous yellow juice. 



Anomalies. Laneritia has 10 monadelphous stamens. Some species of 

 Vismia have solitary seeds, according to Cambessedes. 



Essential Charactp.b. — Sepals 4-5, either more or less cohering-, or wholly distinct, per- 

 Bistent, unequal, with glandular dots. Petals 4-5, hypogynous, with a twisted estivation and 

 oblique venation, often having black dots. Staynens indefinite, hypogynous, in three or more 

 parcels; an Ihers versatile. Ovary single, superior; styles severed, rarely connate; stigma 

 simple, occasionally capitate. Print a capsule or berry, of many valves and many cells; the 

 ■edges of the former being curved inwards. Seeds minute, indefinite, usually tapering, 

 attached to a placenta in the axis or on the inner edge of the dissepiments; embryo straight, 

 with an inferior radicle and no albumen.— Herbaceous plants, shrubs, or trees with a resinous 

 juice. Leaves opposite, entire, dotted, occasionally alternate and crcnated. Flowers generally 

 yellow. Iiijlorescence variable. 



Affinities. Nearly allied to Guttiferse, from which they chiefly differ in 

 their small round and versatile anthers, numerous styles, and polyspermous 

 capsides. To Cistineae they approximate in many points, differing principally 

 in their fruit, polyadelphous stamens, and dotted leaves. With Saxifrageee 

 they appear to me to have a strong relation, through the medium of Pamassia, 

 the fringed "hinds of which are analogous to polyandrous fascicles of Hype- 

 ricum. The leaves of Hypericineae are very commonly marked with dots, 

 which are either transparent, or black and opaque. 



Geography. These are very generally spread over the surface of the 

 earth, inhabiting mountains and valleys, marshes and dry plains', meadows and 

 heaths. The following is the distribution of them, according to M. Choky : — 

 Europe, 19 ; North America, 41 ; South America, 21 ; West Indies, 1 : Asia, 



