65 



3. Myrteje. 

 Myrteae, Dec. Did. Class. 11. (1826) ; Prodr. 3. 230. (1829.) 

 Sepals 4 ov 5. Petals the same number. Stamens distinct. Fruit fleshy, 



many-celled. — Trees or shrubs, mostly intra- tropical, very few from New 



Holland. 



Examples. Myrtus, Eugenia. 



4. Barringtonieje. 

 Barringtoniea?, Dec. Diet. Class. 11. (1826) ; Prodr. 3. 288. (1829.) 

 Lobes of the calyx from 4 to 6. Petals as many. Stamens very nume- 

 rous, in several rows, equally and shortly monadelphous. Fruit berried or, 

 dry, indehiscent, with several cells. Cotyledons large, fleshy. — Trees. 

 Leaves not dotted, alternate, or almost opposite or whorled, entire or serrate. 

 Flowers in racemes or panicles. Probably not belonging to the order. 

 Examples. Barringtonia, Stravadium. 



LVII. COMBRETACEjE. The Myrobalan Tribe. 



foMBncTAcE*, R. Brown Prodr. 351. (1810), incidentally without a character ; A. Rich. 

 Diet. Class. 4. 353. (1823); Dec. Prodr. 3. 9. (1828) ; Mcmoirc (1828.)— Myhobola.nejb, 

 Juss. Diet. Sc. Nat. 31. 458. (1824.) 



Diagnosis. Polypetalous dicotyledons, with perigynous stamens double 

 the number of the petals, concrete carpella, an inferior ovarium of one cell, 

 with pendulous ovules hanging from the apex of the cavity, no stipulae, oblong 

 petals, and convolute cotyledons. 



Anomalies. Often apetalous. 



Essential Character. — Calyx superior, with a 4- or 5-lobed deciduous limb. Petals 

 arising from the orifice of the calyx, alternate with the lobes ; sometimes wanting. Stamciis 

 arising from the same part, twice as many as the segments of the calyx, very rarely equal to 

 them in number, or 3 times as many ; filaments distinct, subulate ; anthers 2-celled, bursting 

 longitudinally. Ovarium 1 -celled, with from 2 to 4 ovules, hanging from the apex of the 

 cavity; style 1 ; stigma simple. Fruit drupaceous, baccate, or nut-like, 1-celled, by abortion 

 l-seeded, indehiscent, often winged. Seed pendulous, without albumen; embryo with tho 

 radicle turned towards the hiluin; plumu/a inconspicuous ; cotyledons leafy, usually convo- 

 lute, occasionally plaited. — Trees or shrubs. Leaves alternate or opposite, without stipulas, 

 entire. Spikes axillary or terminal. 



Affinities. " These may be placed indifferently in the vicinity of Sanla- 

 laceee and Elamgnere, or of Onagrariae and Myrtaceee, approaching the former 

 by the apetalous genera, and the latter by those which have petals." Dec. 

 To Myrtaceae and Melastomacese they are related through Memecyleae, and 

 , especially to the former, by Punica, with which they agree in the structure of 

 their embryo. In the latter respect they also accord with Rhizophoreae and 

 Vochyaceaa ; and with Alangieas and Onagrariae in the general structure of the 

 flower. With Santalaceae and Elaeagneae the apetalous genera agree in many 

 important particulars. 



Decandolle has two sections.: 



1. TERMINALIE.E. 



Embryo cylindrical, elliptical. Cotyledons rolled spirally. Calyx 5-cleft. 

 Petals often wanting. Stamens 10. 



19 



