118 



or compound. Peduncles racemose, sometimes by abortion changing to tendrils. Flowers 

 small, green, [in the North American species of Vitis, polygamous.] 



Affinities. The tumid joints, which separate from each other by an articu- 

 lation, along with the many other points of agreement in their fructification, 

 approximate them to Geraniacere. Their compound leaves, and their evident 

 relation to Leea, which is itself possibly Meliaceous, indicate their affinity to the 

 latter order ; and their habit and inflorescence to Caprifoliaceae, through He- 

 dera. The tendrils of the order are the branches of inflorescence, the flowers 

 of which are abortive. 



Geography. Inhabitants of woods in the milder and hotter parts of both 

 hemispheres, especially in the East Indies. 



Properties. Acid leaves, and a fruit like that of the common grape, is 

 the usual character of the order. The sap or tears of the. vine are a popular 

 remedy in France for chronic ophthalmia, but they are of little value. The 

 leaves, on account of their astringency, are sometimes used in diarrhoea. But 

 the dried fruit and wine are the really important products of the grape ; pro- 

 ducts which are, however, yielded by no other of the order, if we except the 

 Fox-grapes of North America, which scarcely deserve to be excepted. The 

 acid of the grape is chiefly the tartaric ; malic acid, however, exists in them. 

 The sugar contained in grapes differs slightly from common sugar in composi- 

 tion, containing a smaller quantity of carbon. Turner, 682. 



M. Decandolle has 2 tribes, the last of which is doubtful. 



Tribe 1. VinifeRjE, or Sarmentace^. 



Corolla polypetalous. Stamens opposite the petals. Peduncles often with 

 tendrils. 

 Examples Cissus, Vitis. 



Tribe 2. Leeaceje. 



Corolla monopetalous. Stamens alternate 1 with the petals, often monadel- 

 phous. Fruit and seeds scarcely known. Tendrils wanting. 

 Examples. Leea, Lasianthera. 



CV. MELIACEiE. The Bead-tree Tribe. 

 Meli.e, Juss. Gen. 263. (1789) ; Mem. Mus. 3. 436. (1817) ; Dec. Prodr. 1. 619. (1824.) 



Diagnosis. Polypetalous dicotyledons, with definite hypogynous stamens 

 combined in a long tube, concrete carpella, an ovarium of several cells with the 

 placental in the axis, an imbricated calyx, symmetrical flowers, definite exalbu- 

 minous apterous seeds with straight embryo, and sub-sessile anthers. 



Anomalies. 



Essential Character. — Sepals 4 or 5, more or less united. Petals the same number ; hy- 

 pogynous, conniving at the base, or even cohering, usually having a valvate aestivation. Sta- 

 mens twice as many as the petals (occasionally equal in number, sometimes 3 or 4 times as 

 many) ; filaments cohering in a long tube ; anthers sessile within the orifice of the tube. Disk 

 frequently highly developed, surrounding the ovarium like a cup. Ovarium single, with 

 several cells ; style 1 ; stigmas distinct or combined ; ovules 1 or 2 in each cell. Fruit berried, 

 drupaceous or capsular, many-celled, often, in consequence of abortion, 1-celled, the valves, if 

 present, having the dissepiments in their middle. Seeds without albumen, not winged ; cm- 

 bryo inverted. — Trees or shrubs. Leaves alternate, without stipules, simple or compound. 



