108 



cially with Micranthea, and some species of Phyllanthus, more than with the 

 latter. 



Geography. A very small group, comprising a few species from North 

 America, the south of Europe, and Straits of Magellan. 



Properties. Unknown. 



Examples. Empetrum, Corema, Ceratiola. 



XCII. STACKHOUSEiE. 



Stackhouse;e, R. Br. in Flinders, 555. (1814.) 



Diagnosis. Polypetalous dicotyledons, with 5 perigynous stamens, concrete 

 carpella, a superior deeply lobed ovarium with several cells and lateral styles, 

 and regular flowers. 



Anomalies. 



Essential Chabactee. — Calyx 1-leaved, 5-cleft, equal, with an inflated tube. Petals 5, 

 equal, arising from the top of the tube of the calyx ; their claw3 combined in a tube longer than 

 the calyx ; their limb narrow, stellate. Stamens 5, distinct, unequal (2 alternately shorter), 

 arising from the throat of the calyx. Ovarium superior, 3- or 5-lobed, the lobes distinct, each 

 with a single erect ovulum ; styles from 3 to 5, sometimes combined at the base ; stigmas sim- 

 ple. Fruit of from 3 to 5, indehiscent, winged, or wingless pieces ; column central, persistent. 

 Embryo erect, in the axis of and almost as long as, the fleshy albumen. — Herbaceous plants. 

 Leaves simple, entire, alternate, sometimes minute. Stipulce lateral, very minute. Spike ter- 

 minal, each flower with 3 bractea?. 



Affinities. Between Celastrineae and Euphorbiacese, according to Mr. 

 Brown ; from the latter of which they differ in the presence of petals, in the 

 structure of their fruit, and in the position of their seeds, besides other charac- 

 ters ; from the former in the presence of stipulse, in the cohesion of the petals 

 in a tube, in the want of a fleshy disk, in the deeply lobed ovarium, and so on. 



Geography. A few New Holland shrubs compose all that is known of the 

 order. 



Properties. Unknown. 



Example. Stackhousia. 



XCIII. CELASTRINEAE. 



Celastiuneje, R. Brown in Flinders, 22. (1814) ; Dec. Prodr. 2. 2. (1825) ; Ad. Brongniart 

 Memoire sur les Rhamnees 16. (1826) ; Ldndl. Synops. 74. (1829.) 



Diagnosis. Polypetalous dicotyledons, with 4 or 5 perigynous stamens 

 alternate with the petals, concrete carpella, a superior ovarium with several 

 cells surrounded by a large fleshy disk, ascending ovules, and alternate simple 

 leaves without stipulse. 



Anomalies. Flowers diclinous in Maytenus. Petals none in Alzatea. 



Essential Character.— Sepals 4 or 5, imbricated, inserted into the margin of an expanded 

 torus. Petals inserted by a broad base, under the margin of the disk, with an imbricate esti- 

 vation. Stamens alternate with the petals, inserted into the disk, either at the margin or 

 within it ; anthers innate. Disk large, expanded, flat, closely surrounding the ovarium, cover- 

 ing the flat expanded torus. Ovarium superior, immersed in the disk and adhering to it, with 

 3 or 4 cells ; cells 1- or many-seeded ; ovules ascending from the axis, attached to a short funi- 

 culus. Fruit superior ; either a 3- or 4-celled capsule, with 3 or 4 septiferous valves ; or a dry 



