112 



are the fruit of Rh. infectorius and saxatilis, and amygdalinus. The fruit of 

 Zizyphus is destitute of these purgative qualities, and, on the contrary, is often 

 wholesome and pleasant to eat, as in the case of the Jujube and the Lote, the 

 latter of which is now known to have given their name to the classical Loto- 

 phagi. The peduncles of Hovenia dulcis become extremely enlarged and suc- 

 culent, and are in China a fruit in much esteem, resembbng in flavour, as it is 

 said, a ripe Pear. Some species are astringent. Sageretia theezans is used 

 for tea by the poorer classes in China ; an infusion of the twigs of Ceanothus 

 americanus has been named useful [as an astringent injection, {Raf. JVfed. 

 Bot. 2. 205.) and the leaves of the same plant were substituted for tea, in some 

 parts of the United States, during the war of the revolution] . It is said, by 

 Rumphius, that in the Moluccas the bark of Zizyphus Jujuba is employed as 

 a remedy for darrhoea. Brongn. 



Examples. Rhamnus, Phylica, Hovenia. 



XCVII. STAPHYLEACE^E. The Bladder-Nut Tribe. 



Celastrineje, § Staphyleacece, Dec. Prod. 2. 2. (1825).— Staphyleace.e, Lindl. Synops. 75. 



(1829.) 



Diagnosis. Polypetalous dicotyledons, with 5 perigynous stamens alter- 

 nate with the petals, concrete carpella, a superior ovarium of .several cells sur- 

 rounded by a fleshy disk, erect ovules, and opposite pinnated leaves with com- 

 mon and partial stipule. 



Anomalies. Flowers, diclinous, in Turpinia. 



Essential Character. — Sepals 5, connected at the base, coloured, with an imbricated 

 Estivation. Petals 5, alternate, with an imbricated aestivation. Stamens 5, alternate with 

 the petals, perigynous. Disk large urceolate. Ovarium 2- or 3-celled, superior ; ovula erect; 

 styles 2 or 3, cohering at the base. Fruit membranous or fleshy, indehiscent or opening in- 

 ternally, often deformed by the abortion of some of the parts. Seeds ascending, roundish, 

 with a bony testa ; hilum large, truncate ; albumen none ; cotyledons thick. — Shrubs. Leaves 

 opposite,pinnate, with both common and partial stipulre. Flowers in terminal, stalked racemes. 



Affinities. Combined with Celastrinere by Decandolle, but distinguished 

 by Ad. Brongniart (JWem. stir les Rhamntes, p. 16.), this order appears to me 

 to be essentially characterized by its opposite pinnated stipulate leaves, and to 

 indicate an affinity between Celastrinese and Sapindacea;. 



Geography. The very few species which belong here are irregularly scat- 

 tered over the face of the globe. Of the genus Staphylea, 1 is found in 

 Europe, 1 in North America, 1 in Japan, 2 in Jamaica, 1 in Peru ; and of Tur- 

 pinia, 1 is Mexican, and 1 East Indian. 



Properties. Unknown. 



Examples. Staphylea, Turpinia. 



XCVIII. HIPPO-CASTANET. The Horse-Chestnut Tribe. 



Hippocastane.k, Dec. 'Fheorie, ed. 2. 244. (1819); Prodr. 1. 597. (1824.)— Castaneace*, 

 Link Enum. 1. 354. (1821.) 



Diagnosis. Polypetalous dicotyledons, with hypogynous definite stamens, 

 concrete carpella, an ovarium of several cells with the placentae in the axis, 



