so 



fiom them. The origin of the petals and stamens appears at first sight to be 

 hypogynous. But if a flower be carefully cut through vertically, it will be 

 found that the ovarium coheres slightly with the calyx, and that the petals 

 and stamens take their origin from above the point of cohesion. They are 

 consequently perigynous, and not hypogynous. 



Geography. Native of New Holland. 



Properties. None that are known, except beauty. 



Example. Bauera only. 



XLI. BRUNIACE^E. 



Bbuniaceje, R. Brown in Abel's China (1818); Dec. Prodr. 2. 43. (1825); Ad. Brongniart in 

 Ann. des Sc. Nat. (1826). 



Diagnosis. Polypetalous dicotyledons, with perigynous stamens equal in 

 number to the petals, concrete carpella, an inferior ovarium of from 1 to 3 cells, 

 containing definite pendulous ovules, imbricated sepals, and embryo in the axis 

 of albumen. 



Anomalies. Berzelia has a single carpellum .Raspailia has the ovarium 

 superior. 



Essential Character. — Calyx superior, 5-clcft, imbricated, occasionally nearly inferior. 

 Petals alternate with the segments of the calyx, arising from its throat, imbricated. Stamens 

 alternate with the petals, arising: from the same point, or from a disk surrounding the ova- 

 rium ; anthers turned outwards, 2-celled, bursting longitudinally. Ovarium half inferior, 

 with from 1 to 3 cells, in each of which there is from 1 to 2 suspended collateral ovula; style 

 6imple or bifid ; stigma simple. Fruit dioecious or indchiscent, 2- or 1-ccllcd, crowned by the 

 persistent calyx. Seeds solitary or in pairs, suspended, sometimes with a short arillus ; albu- 

 men fleshy ; embryo minute at the base of the seed, with a conical superior radicle, and 6hort 

 fleshy cotyledons. — Branched, heath-like shrubs. Leaves small, imbricated, rigid, entire, with 

 a callous point. Floicers small, capitate, or panicled, or even terminal, and solitary ; either 

 naked, or with large involucrating bractese. 



Affinities. Nearly allied to Hamamelidere, which are known by their 

 habit, stipules, and deciduous valves of the anthers, and also by their valvate 

 sepals and petals. Brongniart indicates an affinity with Myrtaceae through 

 Imbricaria, which is very nearly constructed as true Bruniacese, but has the 

 stamens opposite the petals, and dotted leaves. The genus Raspailia is re- 

 markable for having the stamens arising from the top of a superior ovarium ! 

 and Thamnea is perhaps a solitary instance of a 1-celled ovarium with the 

 ovules adhering to a central columnar axis. This order appears to me to ap- 

 proach Penreacere in several points. 



Geography. All found at the Cape of Good Hope, with the exception of 

 a single species inhabiting Madagascar. 



Propertifs. Unknown. 



Examples. Brunia, Linconia, Raspailia. 



XLII. HAMAMELIDE^E. The Witch-Hazel Tribe. 



Hamamelideje, R. Br. in Abel's Voyage to Chma, (1818) ; A. Richard Nouv. Elem. 532 

 • (1828.) [Dec. Prod. 4. 267. (1830.) ] 



Diagnosis. Polypetalous dicotyledons, with perigynous stamens twice the 

 number of the petals, concrete carpella, an inferior ovarium of 2 cells with 

 solitary pendulous ovules, alternate leaves, deciduous stipulae, valvate calyx, 

 linear valvate-involute petals, and deciduous valves to the anthers. 



Anomalies. Fothergilla is apetalous. 



