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LIX. ELiEAGNE^E. The Oleaster Tribe. 



EljEAONI, Juss. Gen. 75. (1789.)— Eljeagnejr, Ach. Rich. Monogr. (1823); lAndl. 

 Synopsis, 20a (1829.) 



Diagnosis. Apetalous dicotyledons, with definite erect ovula, a tabular 

 inferior calyx with the stamens alternate with its segments, and leprous leaves. 

 Anomalies. None. 



Essential Character. — Blowers dioecious, rarely monoclinous. Stamens : Calyx 4« 

 parted; stamens 3, 4, or 8, sessile; anthers 2-cclled. Pistil: Calyx inferior, tubular, per- 

 sistent; the limb entire, or 2-4-toothed. Ovarium superior, simple, 1-celled; ovulum solitary, 

 ascending, stalked; stigma simple, subulate, glandular. Fruit crustaceous, enclosed within 

 the calyx become succulent. Seed erect ; embryo straight, surrounded by very thin fleshy 

 albumen; radicle short, inferior; cotyledons fleshy. — Trees or shrubs, covered with leprous 

 scales. Leaves alternate or opposite, entire, without stipula?. Flowers axillary, often fragrant. 



Affinities. Its leprous leaves, superior fruit, and apetalous flowers, will at 

 all times distinguish the Oleaster tribe, which touches at one point Thymeleeae, 

 from which it is known by the position of its ovulum ; at another Proteaceae, 

 known by their valvate irregular calyxes and dehiscent fruit ; at a third Santa- 

 laces, which have the ovarium inferior ; and also at a fourth Combretacea?, 

 which have petals, convolute cotyledons, and a superior calyx. 



Geography. The whole of tire northern hemisphere, as far as the equator, 

 is occupied more or less by this family, from Canada and Japan to Guiana and 

 Java : they are not known south of the line. 



Properties. The berries of Hippophre rhamnoides are occasionally eaten ; 

 the fruit of Elaeagnus orientalis is almost as large as a Jujube, and is known in 

 Persia as an article of the dessert, under the name of Zinzeyd ; that of E, 

 arborea and conferta is eaten in Nipal. 



Examples. Elreagnus, Hippophse, Shepherdia, Conuleum, 



LX. PROTEACEAE. 



Pboteaceje, Juss. Gen. (17S9); R. Brown, in Linn. Trans. 10. 15. (1809); Prodr. 363. (1810.) 



Diagnosis. Apetalous dicotyledons, with definite erect ovula, dehiscent 

 fruit, a tubular inferior calyx with the stamens opposite its segments, and a 

 valvate aestivation. 



Anomalies. The aestivation of Franklandia is induplicate, according to 

 Mr. Brown. 



Essential Character. Calyx 4-leaved, or 4-cleft, with a valvular aestivation. Stamen* 

 4, sometimes in part sterile, opposite the segments of the calyx. Ovariuvi simple, superior ; 

 style simple ; stigma undivided. Fruit deliiscent or indehiscent. Seed without albumen; 

 embryo with two, or occasionally several cotyledons, straight; radicle inferior. — Shrubs or 

 small trees. Branches usually umbellate. Leaves hard, dry, divided or undivided, opposite or 

 alternate, without stipulce. 



Affinities. There is no difficulty in distinguishing this order ; the hard 

 woody texture of whose leaves, and irregular tubular calyxes having a val- 

 vate aestivation, stamens placed upon the lobes, along with a dehiscent fruit, 

 at once characterize it. By these characters it is known from Elaeagneae, and 

 all other orders. The most complete systematic monograph that has ever been 



