2. CombretejE. 



Embryo cylindrical, elliptical, or angular. Cotyledons thick, plaited irre- 

 gularly and longitudinally. Calyx 4 -6-cleft. Petals 4-5. Stamens 8-10. 



Geography. All natives of the tropics of India, Africa, and America. 

 No species is extra-tropical. 



Properties. Mostly astringents. Bucida Buceras yields a bark used for 

 tanning. Terminalia Vernix is said to furnish the Chinese varnish, the juice 

 and exhalation of which are poisonous ; but this is at least doubtful. The bark 

 of Conocarpus racemosa, one of the plants called Mangroves in Brazil is used 

 greatly at Rio Janeiro for tanning. Pr. Max. Trav. 206. The fruit of the 

 Terminalia bellerica, or the Belleric Myrobalan, is an astringent, tonic, and 

 attenuant. Ainslic, 1. 236. That of the Terminalia Chebula is much more 

 astringent. The bark of Terminalia alata is astringent and antifebrile. Ibid. 

 2. 193. The fruit of Terminalia Chebula, as well as the galls of the same 

 plant, are very astringent, and highly valued by dyers : with alum they give a 

 durable yellow, and with a ferruginous mud an excellent black. Ibid. 2. 128. 

 The root of T. latifolia is given in Jamaica in diarrhoea. Ibid. 



Examples. Combretum, Bucida, Terminalia. 



LVIII. ALANGIE.E. 



Alangieje, Dec. Prodr. 3. 203. (1828.) 



Diagnosis. Polypetalous dicotyledons, with numerous perigynous stamens* 

 concrete carpella, an inferior ovarium with several cells, definite pendulous 

 ovula, exstipulate leaves, flat cotyledons, and linear petals. 



Anomalies. None. 



Essential Character. — Calyx superior, eampanulate, 5-10-toothed. Petals 5-10, linear, 

 reflexed. Stamens long-, exserted, 2 or 4 times as numerous as the petals ; filaments distinct, 

 villous at the base ; anthers adnatc, linear, 2-celled, turned inwards, often empty. Disk fleshy 

 at the base of the limb of the calyx. Drupe oval, somewhat crowned by the calyx, fleshy, 

 slightly ribbed, and downy; nucleus 1-celled, bony, with a foramen at the apex. Seed 1, or 

 according to Rheedc 3, inverted, ovate ; albumen fleshy, brittle ; embryo straight ; radicle 

 long, ascending ; cotyledons flat, foliaceous, cordate-ovate. — Large trees. Branches often 

 spiny. Leaves alternate, without stipulre, entire, without dots. Flowers fascicled, axillary. 

 Pru.it eatable. 



Affinities. " Differ from Myrtacese in their more numerous petals, adnate 

 anthers, 1-celled fruit, and pendulous albuminous seeds. Agree with Combre- 

 tacese in the contracted tube of the calyx, 1-celled fruit, and pendulous seeds ; 

 but differ in the number of the petals, adnate anthers, albuminous seeds, and 

 flat cotyledons. The order disagrees entirely with Melastomaceae and Ona- 

 grarice, in the form of the anthers, and 1-celled fruit. It in some measure . 

 approaches Halorageae in the structure of the seed, but recedes from them in 

 habit, 1-celled fruit, and single style." Dec. Prodr. 3. 203. 



Geography. Natives of the East Indies. 



Properties. Alangium decapetalum and hexapetalum are said by the 

 Malays to have a purgative hydragogic property. Their roots are aromatic. 



Example. Alancrium. 



