77 



Essential Character. — Sepals 5, with an incurved valvate aestivation. Petals 5, alter- 

 nate with the sepals, and arising from the base of the calyx, usually 2-lobed. Stamens 5, alter- 

 nate with the petals, and combined with them at the base ; anthers ovate, versatile. Glands 

 usually 5, hypogynous, opposite the petals. Ovarium superior, 2- or 3-cc lied : ovules twin, 



rjndulous ; style simple; stigma obsoletcly 3-lobcd. Fruit drupaceous, rather dry, 1- 2- or 

 celled. Seeds solitary, pendulous, without albumen; embryo thick, with a thick superior 

 radicle and fleshy cotyledons. — Trees or shrubs. Leaves alternate, with two stipule, entire. 

 Mowers small, axillary, their peduncle often connate with the petiole. 



Affinities. Whether what are here called petals are not rather abortive 

 stamina is doubted by botanists, and hence the station of the order is by one 

 referred to Dichlamydea?, and by another to Monochlamydese, and is compared, 

 on the one hand, with Terebintacese or Rosacea?, and, on the other, with Sa- 

 mydeae and Amentacere. To me it seems that what appear to be petals are so ; 

 a fact which it is difficult to doubt, when it is remembered that both organs are 

 mere transformations of one common type, and that it is in appearance and po- 

 sition only that they differ. Decando'lle stations it between Homalineae and 

 Aquilarineae, to the latter of which it has probably most affinity ; it agrees 

 with the former in the presence of glands round the ovarium, but differs in its 

 superior ovarium with the placenta in the axis, and many other characters. 



Geography. Of the few known species belonging to this order, 2 are 

 found in Sierra Leone, 2 in Madagascar, 2 in equinoctial America, and 1 in 

 Timor. 



Properties. The fruit of Chailletia toxicaria is said to be poisonous. 



Examples. Chailletia, Leucosia, Tapura. 



LXX. HOMALINEiE. 



Homalineje, R. Brown in Congo, (1818) ; Dec. Prodr. 2. 53. (1825.) 



Diagnosis. Polypetalous dicotyledons, with perigynous stamens, concrete 

 carpella, an inferior ovarium of 1 cell with parietal placentae, and petals and 

 sepals resembling each other, with glands at their base. 



Anomalies. It is said there are no glands in Napimoga. Astranthus is 

 said to have a superior ovarium ; but this requires confirmation. 



Essential Character. — Calyx funnel-shaped, superior, with from 5 to 15 divisions. Petals 

 alternate with the segments of the calyx, and equal to them in number. Glands present in 

 front of the segments of the calyx. Stamens arising from the base of the petals, either singly 

 or in threes or sixes ; anthers 2-celled, opening longitudinally. Ovarium half inferior, 1-celled, 

 with numerous ovula; styles from 3 to 5, simple, filiform, or subulate; ovules attached to aa 

 many parietal placenta; as there are styles. Fruit berried or capsular. Seeds small, ovate, 

 or angular, with an embryo in the middle of fleshy albumen. — Trees or shrubs. Leaves alter- 

 nate, with deciduous stipulffi, toothed or entire. Flowers in spikes, racemes, or panicles. 



Affinities. According to Mr. Brown, related to Passiflorea, especially to 

 Smeathmannia," from which, however, their inferior ovarium distinguishes them, 

 to say nothing of their general want of stipulse and glands on the leaves, of the 

 presence of glands at the base of the floral envelopes, and of their erect and 

 very different habit. With Malesherbiaceee they agree and disagree much, as 

 with Passiflorere. From Rosacea^, Bixinea, and Flacourtianeas, to all which 

 they have a greater or less degree of affinity, they differ in many obvious par- 

 ticulars. Decandolle places them between Samydere and Chailletiaceas, de- 

 scribing them as apetalous, but classing them with his Dichlamydeee ; Mr. 

 Brown also understands them as without petals ; but I confess I cannot com- 

 prehend what petals are, if the inner series of the floral envelopes of these plants 

 are not so ; an opinion which their supposed affinity with Passifloreee would 



