82 



Anomalies. In Araelanchier, the simple ovaria are spuriously 2-celled. In 



Crataegus the ovaria are very rarely solitary. 



Essential Character. — Calyx superior, 5-toothed ; the odd segment posterior. Petals 

 5, unguiculate, inserted in the throat of the calyx ; the odd one anterior. Stamens indefinite, 

 inserted in a ring in the throat of the calyx. bisk thin, clothing the sides of the limb of the 

 calyx. Ovaria from 1 to 5, adhering more or less to the sides of the calyx and each other ; 

 ovules usually 2, collateral, ascending, very rarely solitary ; styles from 1 to 5 ; stigmata sim- 

 ple. Fruit a pome, I- to 5-celled, seldom spuriously 10-celled ; the endocarpium either carti- 

 laginous, spongy, or bony. Seeds ascending, solitary. Albumen none ; embryo erect, with flat 

 cotyledons, or convolute ones in Chamtcmeles, and a short conical radicle. — Trees or shrubs. 

 Leaves alternate, stipulate, simple, or compound. Flowers in terminal cymes, white or pink. 



Affinities. Closely allied to Rosaceae, from which they differ in the ad- 

 hesion of the ovaria with the sides of the calyx, and more or less with each other. 

 Their fruit is always a pome ; that is, it is made up of a fleshy calyx adhe- 

 ring to fleshy or bony ovaria, containing a definite number of seeds. Poma- 

 ceae are peculiarly distinguished by their ovula being in pairs, and side by side ; 

 while Rosaceae, when they have two or more ascending ovules, always have 

 them placed one above the other. Cultivated plants of the order are very apt 

 to produce monstrous flowers, which depart sometimes in a most remarkable 

 degree from their normal state. No order can be more instructively studied 

 with a view to morphological inquiries ; particularly the common Pear when in 

 blossom. A remarkable permanent monster of this kind, with 14 styles, 14 

 ovaria, and a calyx with 10 divisions in two rows, is described in the Revue 

 Encycloptdique, (43. 762.) ; it exhibits a tendency, on the part of Pomaceae, 

 to assume the indefinite ovaria and double calyx of Rosacea^. I have seen a 

 Prunus in a similar state. Amygdaleea are known by their superior solitary 

 ovarium and drupaceous fruit, and by the presence of Prussic acid, which, 

 however, exists in Cotoneaster microphylla, a plant of the order Pomaceae. 



Geography. Found plentifully in Europe, Northern Asia, the mountains 

 of India, and North America ; rare in Mexico, unknown in Africa, except on 

 its northern shore, and in Madeira, and entirely absent from the southern 

 hemisphere ; a solitary species is found in the Sandwich Islands. 



Properties. The fruit as an article of food, and the flowers for their 

 beauty, are the chief peculiarities of this order, which consists exclusively of 

 trees and bushes, without any herbaceous plant. The Apple, the Pear, the 

 Medlar, the Quince, the Service, the Rowan Tree or Mountain Ash, are all well 

 known, either for their beauty or their use. The wood of the Pear is almost 

 as hard as Box, for which it is even substituted by wood engravers ; the tim- 

 ber of the Beam Tree (Pyrus Aria) is invaluable for axletrees. The bark of 

 Photinia dubia is used in Nipal for dyeing scarlet. Dec. Prodr. 238. Malic 

 acid is contained, in considerable quantity, in apples ; it is also almost the sole 

 acidifying principle of the berries of the Mountain Ash (Pyrus aucuparia). 

 Turner, 634. 



Examples. Pyrus, Crataegus, Cydonia. 



LXXV. AMYGDALEjE. The Almond Tribe. 



Amygdaleje, Juss. Gen. 340. a % of Rosacea (1789).— Drupacex, Dec. Fl. Francaise, 4. 479. 

 (1815) ; Prodr. 2. 529. (1825) o § of Rosacea ; Ltndl. Synops. 89. (1829) o § of Rosacea;. . 



Diagnosis. Polypetalous dicotyledons, with a superior solitary simple ova- 

 rium having a terminal style, regular perigynous indefinite stamens, a drupa- 



