114 



measure also related to Hippocastaneae on account of its opposite compound 

 palmate leaves ; but in Hippocastaneae the radicle is small, and the cotyledons 

 very large, while in Rhizoboleae the radicle is enlarged, and the cotyledons 

 small. In both orders the albumen seems to be absorbed by the various parts 

 of the embryo. Decand. Prodr. 1. 599, 



Geography. Six large trees found in the forests of the hottest parts of 

 South America constitute the whole of the order. 



Properties. Some of them are known for producing the Souari (vulgS 

 Suw arrow) Nuts, of the shops, the kernel of which is one of the most deli- 

 cious fruits of the nut kind that is known. An oil is extracted from them not 

 inferior to that of the Olive. 



Example. Caryocar. 



C. SAPINDACEiE. The Soap-Tree Tribe. 



Sapindi, Juss. Gen. 246. (1789.)— Sapindaceje, Juss. Ann. Mus. 18. 476. (1811); Dec. Prodr. 



1. 601. (1824.) 



Diagnosis. Polypetalous dicotyledons, with hypogynous definite stamens 

 irregularly arranged upon a disk, concrete carpella, an ovarium of several 

 cells with the placentae in the axis, an imbricated calyx, unsymmetrical 

 flowers, petals usually with some interior appendage, and very unequal sepals. 



Anomalies. In Tina the flowers appear to be symmetrical. Stadmannia, 

 Amirola, and Dodonaea, have no petals. 



Essential Character. — Sepals 4 or 5, either distinct or cohering- at the base ; (estivation 

 imbricate. Petals generally equal in number to the sepals, occasionally one less, very rarely 

 none, hypogynous ; sometimes naked, sometimes villous or glandular in the middle, some- 

 times with an interior petaloid scale. Stamens irregularly arranged, distinct, double the 

 number of the petals, inserted on a hypogynous glandular disk. Ovarium roundish ; style 1 

 or 3 ; ovula arising from the middle of the axis, definite (collateral), ascending. Fruit dru- 

 paceous or capsular, 3-celled, or by abortion 1- or 2-celled. Seeds solitary, attached to the 

 axis, without albumen ; embryo with the radicle pointing towards the base of the cell ; coty. 

 ledons more or less curved upon the radicle, occasionally straight. — Erect or climbing trees 

 or shrubs, very seldom herbaceous plants. Leaves alternate, often compound, having fre- 

 quently pellucid lines or dots. 



Affinities. Very near Meliaceae, which agree in habit and in their pin- 

 nated leaves, but which are known by their monadelphous stamens and sym- 

 metrical flowers. To Polygaleoe they are no doubt akin in the singular com- 

 bination of 8 stamens with 5 unequal sepals, and an uncertain number of 

 petals ; and also in their arillus, which may be compared to the caruncula of 

 Polygaleas, although somewhat different in its origin. The dried leaves 

 resemble, as Decandolle remarks, those of Connaracece. Their climbing habit 

 and tendency to produce tendrils indicate a relation to Vites, which, however, 

 is not very near. Mr. Brown remarks, that although in the far greater part of 

 this family the ovulum is erect and the radicle of the embryo inferior, yet it 

 includes more than one genus in which both the seeds and embryo are 

 inverted. Congo, 427. (1818.) 



Geography. Natives of most parts of the tropics, but especially of South 

 America and India ; the tribe called Paullinieae is most abundant in'the former, 

 and Sapindeaj in the latter region. Africa knows many of them, but they are 

 wanting in the cold regions of the north. None are found in Europe or the 

 United States of America, Dodonaeas represent the order in New Holland. 



