11G 



CII. ERYTHROXYLEiE. 



EEYTHBOXYLEiE, Kunth in Humb. N. G. Am. 5. 175. (1821); Dec. Prodr. 1. 573. (1824.) 



Diagnosis. Polypetalous dicotyledons, with definite hypogynous stamens, 

 concrete carpella, an entire ovarium of 1 cell, an imbricated calyx, symmetrical 

 flowers, definite pendulous ovules, distinct sessile stigmas, and drupaceous 

 fruit. 



Anomalies. 



Essential Character.— Sepals 5, combined at the base, persistent. Petals 5, hypogynous. 

 broad at the base, with a plaited scale there, equal, the margins lying upon each other in aesti- 

 vation. Stamens 10; filaments combined at the base into a cup; anthers innate, erect, 

 2-celled, dehiscing lengthwise. Ovarium 1-celled, or 3-celied, with 2 cells spurious; styles 2, 

 distinct; stigmas 3, somewhat capitate, or united almost to the point; orulum solitary, pendu- 

 lous. Fruit drupaceous, 1-seeded. Seed angular ; albumen corneous ; embryo linear, straight, 

 central ; cotyledons linear, flat, leafy ; radicle superior, taper, straight ; plumula inconspicu- 

 ous. Shrubs or trees; young shoots often compressed and covered with acute imbricated 

 scales. Leaves alternate, seldom opposite, usually smooth ; stipules axillary. Mowers small, 

 whitish or greenish. Peduncles with bractcre at the base. 



Affinities. Separated from Malpighiaceae by Kunth on account of the 

 appendages of the petals, the presence of albumen, the fruit being often 1-celled 

 by abortion, and their peculiar habit. Dec. Mr. Brown suggests that Ery- 

 throxylon belongs to Malpighiaceee, or at least that it approximates very closely 

 to that family. Congo, 426. 



Geography. Chiefly West Indian and South American. A few are found 

 in the East Indies, and several in the Mauritius and Madagascar. 



Properties. The wood of some is bright red ; that of E. hypericifolium 

 is called in the Isle of France Bois d'huile. A permanent reddish brown dye 

 is obtained from the bark of Erythroxylum suberosum, called in Brazil Gal- 

 linha choca and Mercurio do campo. Pi Us. 69. 



Examples. Erythroxylum, Sethia. 



CIII. MALPIGHIACEvE. The Barbadoes Cherry Tribe. 



Malpighiaceje, Juss. Gen. 252. (1789) ; Ann. Mus. 18. 479. (1811) ; Dec. Prodr. 1. 577. (1824.) 



Diagnosis. Polypetalous dicotyledon?, with definite hypogynous stamens, 

 concrete carpella, a nearly entire ovarium of 3 cells, a glandular imbricated 

 calyx, symmetrical flowers, definite pendulous ovules, a single stjlc, cxalbumi- 

 nous seeds, fruit without a woody axis, unguiculate petals, and leaves without 

 pellucid dots. 



Anomalies. Styles sometimes distinct. Leaves in an African species 

 alternate. Petals occasionally wanting. 



Essential Character. — Sepals 5, slightly combined, persistent. Petals 5, unguiculate, 

 inserted in a hypogynous disk, occasionally rather unequal, very seldom wanting. Stamens 

 10, alternate with the petals, seldom fewer, occasionally solitary ; filaments either distinct, or 

 partly monadclphous; anthers roundish. Ovarium 1, usually 3-lobcd, formed of 3 carpella, 

 more or less combined; styles 3, distinct or combined; omnia suspended. Fruit dry or ber- 

 ried, 3-celled or 3-lobcd, occasionally 1- or 2-celled by abortion. Seeds solitary, pendulous, 

 without albumen'; embryo more or less curved, or straight ; radicle short ; lobes leafy or thick- 

 ish. — Small trees or shrubs, sometimes climbing. Leaves opposite, scarcely ever alternate, 

 simple, without dots, with stipula; mostly. Flowers in racemes or corymbs. Pedicels articu- 

 lated in the middle, with 2 minute bractccc. 



