47 



24 • New Holland, 5 ; Africa and the neighbouring islands, 7 ; Azores and 

 Canaries, 5 ; common to Europe and Asia, 4 ; common to Europe, Asia, and 

 Africa, 1. {Choisy, Prodr. 1821.) 



Properties. The juice of many species is slightly purgative and febrifu- 

 gal ; it is most copious in the Vismias, and is analogous to Gamboge, has a 

 resinous smell, and gives out to spirit of wine, or oil, a red colour, which may 

 be employed in dyeing. Hypericum hircinum is fcetid. A gargle for sore 

 throats is prepared in Brazil from Hypericum connatum, commonly called 

 Ortlha de Gato. PI. Us. 61. A decoction of the leaves of another species, 

 Hypericum laxiusculum, or Alkcrim brabo, is reputed in the same country 

 as a specific against the bites of serpents. lb. 62. 



Examples. Hypericum, Vismea, Elodea. 



The following sections are employed by M. Choisy : 



Sub-order I. True Hypericine*. 



Seeds taper. Styles usually from 3 to 5. 



Tribe 1. Vismieje. Fruit a berry. Flowers in distinct leafless, racemose, 

 or corymbose panicles. Trees or shrubs. Leaves stalked. 



Tribe 2. Hyperice;e. Fruit a capsule. Flowers terminal or axillary. 

 Herbaceous plants or under-shrubs. Leaves usually sessile. 



Sub-order II. Anomalous Hypericine.e 



Seeds flat, winged. Styles more than 5. 



XXXVII. REAUMURIEiE. . 



Reaumurieje, Ehrenberg in Ann. des Sc. 12. 78. (1829.) 



Diagnosis. Polypetalous dicotyledons, with indefinite hypogynous stamens, 

 concrete carpella, an imbricated calyx, an ovarium of several cells, several 

 styles, and villous seeds definite in number. 



Anomalies. 



K.-sen-tial Character.— ( 'nly.v 5-partcd, surrounded externally by imbricated bracteae. 

 Petals 5, hypogynous. Stamens definite or indefinite, hypogynous, with or Without an hypogy- 

 nous di.sk; anthers peltate. Ovarium superior ; styles several, filiform, or subulate. Fruit 

 capsular, with 2 to 5 valves, and as many cells', and a loculicidal dehiscence. Seeds definite, 

 villous, erect; embryo straight, surrounded by a small quantity of mealy albumen; radicle 

 next the hilum. — Shrubs. Leaves fleshy, scale-like, or small, alternate, without stipula;. 

 Flowers solitary. 



Affinities. Dr. Ehrenberg suggests {Ann. des Sc. 12. 72.) that Reaunm- 

 ria and Hololachna, both of which have, according to him, hypogynous sta- 

 mens, may constitute a little group, to be called Reaumuriere. To me the 

 order appears more nearly related to Hypericinea: than to either Ficoidea? or Ta- 

 mariscinea:. From the former it chiefly differs in its succulent habit , a nd definite 

 \illous seeds, agreeing, in Reaumuria at least, even in the obliquity of the veins 

 of the petals, and in the leaves being dotted. From Ficoideae its hypogynous 

 stamens and seeds distinguish it ; from Tamaiiscineae its plurilocular ovarium 

 and distinct styles ; from Nitrariacere its erect villous seeds, distinct styles, and 

 hypogynous stamens. 



Geography. Natives of the Mediterranean and the middlei parts of 

 Northern Asia. 



Properties None except the presence of saline matter in great abun- 

 dance. 



Examples. Reaumuria, Hololachna 



