49 



Properties. According to Decandolle, the whole order is more or less 

 astringent. The root of Heuchera americana is a powerful astringent, whence 

 it is called in North America Alum root. Barton, 2. 162. Otherwise they pos- 

 sess no known properties ; for the old idea of their being lithontriptic appears to 

 have been derived from their name rather than their virtues. 



Examples. Saxifraga, Robertsonia, Adoxa, Parnassia. 



XXXIX. CUNONIACE.E. 



Cunoniace^:, R. Br. in Minders 548. (1814). [Saxifragace^e § Cunoniacece Dec. Prod. 4. 



7. (1S30.)] 



Diagnosis. Poljpetalous dicotyledons, with definite perigynous stamens, 

 separate carpella, a more or less inferior ovarium, shrubby stem, and interpe- 

 tiolar stipule. 



Anomalies. Petals sometimes wanting. 



Essential Character. Calyx 4 or 5 cleft, half superior or nearly inferior. Petals 4 or 5, 

 occasionally wanting - . Stamens perigynous, definite 8-10. Ovarium 2-celled ; the cells hav- 

 ing- 2 or many seeds ; styles 1 or 2. Fruit 2-celled, capsular, or indehiscent. Embryo in the 

 axis of fleshy albumen. Trees or shrubs. Leaves opposite, compound or simple, usually with 

 interpetiolar stipules. 



Affinities. More readily distinguished from Saxifragese by their widely 

 different habit than by any very important characters in the fructification. 

 Brown in Flinders, 548. The shrubby habit and remarkable interpetiolar sti- 

 pules are their principal character. Baueraceae are known by their indefinite 

 stamens, porous anthers, and want of stipulae. 



Geography. Natives of the Cape, South America, and the East Indies. 



Properties. A Weinmannia is used in Peru for tanning leather, and its 

 astringent bark is employed to adulterate the Peruvian bark. The Indian 

 Weinmannias appear to possess similar astringent qualities. Dec. 



Examples. Cunonia, Weinmannia. 



XL. BAUERACEAE. 



A section of Cunoniacese R. Brown in Flinders, 584. (1814). [Saxifragaceje. s Baueracese 



Dec. Prodr. 4. 13. (1830.)J 



Diagnosis. Polypetalous dicotyledons, with indefinite perigynous stamens, 

 ovaria adhering more or less to the calyx and each other, anthers bursting by 

 two pores, indefinite seeds, and no stipuke. 



Anomalies. 



Essential Character. — Sepals 8, foliaceous, inferior. Petalsthe same number, alternate 

 with them, arising' from the base of the calyx. Stamens indefinite, obscurely perigynous • 

 anthers oblong, bursting- by two pores at the apex. Carpella 2, a little inferior, coherent each 

 1-cclled, with numerous ovula attached to a common central axis ; style one, filiform, to' each 

 ovarium. Fruit capsular, opening at the apex. Seeds indefinite, attached to a central pla- 

 centa; embryo in the axis of fleshy albumen, with a long taper radicle, pointing to the hilum. 

 — Shrubs. Leaves toothed, ternate, opposite, without stipula?. Flowers solitary, axillary. 



Affinities. I distinguish this small order both from Saxifrageee and Cu- 

 noniaceee by its indefinite stamens, anthers dehiscing by pores, and by its pecu- 

 liar habit. It has always been considered an anomaly, with whichsoever 

 of those two orders it has been combined, and is now convenientlv separated 



17 



