70 



considered a cordial by some Asiatic nations, and has been prescribed in Europe 

 in gout and rheumatism. Jlinslie, 1. 479. 

 Example. Aquilaria. 



LXVIII. OLACINEiE. 



Olacineje, Mirb. Bull. Philom. n. 75. 377. (1813); Dec. Prodr. 1. 531. (1824.) 



Diagnosis. Polypetalous dicotyledons; with hypogynous definite stamens, 

 concrete carpella, an ovarium of 1 cell with a columnar placenta in the axis, 

 an imbricated calyx, unsymmetrical flowers, definite (3) pendulous ovules, and 

 bifid petals with appendages. 



Anomalies. According to Decandolle and others, the ovarium of some 

 consists of several cells, but this is doubtful. Ximenia has entire petals, but it 

 is not certain that it belongs to the order. 



Essential Character. — Calyx small, entire, or slightly toothed, finally becoming', in many 

 cases, enlarged. Petals, definite, hypogynous, valvate in aestivation, either altogether sepa- 

 rate, or cohering in pairs by the intervention of stamina. Stamens definite, part fertile, part 

 sterile ; the former varying in number from 3 to 10, hypogynous, usually cehering with the 

 petals, and alternate with them ; the latter opposite the petals, to which they in part adhere, 

 their upper end resembling an appendage ; filaments compressed; anthers innate, oblong, 

 2-celled, bursting longitudinally. Ovarium superior, l : ceiled, with 3 ovules pendulous from the 

 top of a central coluimi or placenta. P. Br. (Style' filiform ; stigma simple. Fruit some- 

 what drupaceous, indehisoent, frequently surrounded by the enlarged calyx, 1-celled, 1-seeded. 

 Seed erect ; albumen large, fleshy ; embryo small, in the base of albumen, its radicle near the 

 hilum. — Trees or shrubs. Leaves simple, alternate, entire, without stipulse; occasionally 

 wanting. Flowers small, axillary. 



Affinities. M. Decandolle places this' order near Aurantiacese, with which 

 it agrees in many respects, differing, however, in the structure of the ovarium, 

 the want of a disk, the unsymmetrical flowers, &c. Jussieu, on the contrary, 

 regards the affinity as strongest with Sapotese, considering the corolla as mo- 

 nopetalous. But the obvious affinity of Olax with Aquilarineae and Samydese 

 induces me to concur with Mr. Brown in considering the order nearly akin to 

 Santalacese, among Monochlamydese. In the meanwhile its artificial charac- 

 ters place it among Thalamiflorae. 



Geography. A small order, consisting of 'tropical or nearly tropical 

 shrubs, chiefly found' in the East Indies, New Holland, and Africa. One only 

 is known in the West Indies. None have been described from any part of 

 South America, south of Dutch Guiana. 



Properties. The wood of Heisteria coccinea is the Partridge wood of the 

 cabinet-makers. 



Examples. Olax, Fissilia. 



LXIX. CHAILLETIACE.E. 



Chailletije, R. Brown Cong. p. 23. (1818).— Chailletiace*:, Dec. Prodr. 2.57. (1825.) 



Diagnosis. Polypetalous dicotyledons, with definite perigynous stamens, 

 concrete carpella, a superior ovarium with 2 or 3 cells and 5 hypogynous glands 

 and alternate stipulate leaves. 



Anomalies. 



