120 



placentae in the axis, an imbricated calyx, symmetrical flowers, indefinite 

 exalbuminous winged seeds with a straight embryo, and subsessile anthers. 

 Anomalies. Flindersia has dotted leaves. 



Essential Character. — Calyx 5-cleft, persistent. Petals 5, sessile, inserted at the base 

 of a staminiferous disk, imbricated in restivation. Stamens 10, inserted on the outside, 

 below the apex of a hypogynous disk ; those which are opposite the petals sterile ; anthers 

 acuminate, attached near the base; their cells side by side, bursting' longitudinally. Disk 

 hypogynous, cup-shaped, with 10 plaits. Ovarium superior, 5-cellcd ; style simple ; stigma 

 deeply 5-lobed, peltate. Capsule separable into 5 pieces, which are combined at the base, 

 before bursting, with a short central axis, which is finally distinct and persistent. Placenta 

 central, with 5 longitudinal lobes, which occupy the cavities of the capsule, and therefore 

 alternate with the pieces, dividing each cavity in two ; finally becoming - loose, and having 2 

 (or more) seeds on each side. Seeds erect, or ascending, with their apex terminated in a 

 wing; testa coriaceous, thickened at the base and sides; albumen 0, (a little, Dec); cotyle- 

 dons flat, transverse; radicle transverse, very short, distant from the hilum, (embryo erect, 

 Dec.) — Leaves alternate, without stipula;, compound. Inflorescence terminal, paniclecf. R. Br. 



Affinities. Nearly related to Meliacere, in whose affinities they partici- 

 pate. Chiefly distinguished by their winged and indefinite seeds. Flindersia, 

 a genus established by Mr. Brown in the Appendix to Captain Flinders' Voy- 

 age, differs from Cedreleae both in the insertion of its seeds, which are erect, in 

 the dehiscence of its capsules, and also in having movable dissepiments : these 

 last, however, Mr. Brown considers as segments of a common placenta, hav- 

 ing a peculiar form. Flindersia is also distinct from the whole order, in having 

 its leaves dotted with pellucid glands, in which respect it serves to connect 

 Cedreleae with Hesperideae (Aurantiaceee,) and, notwithstanding the absence 

 of albumen, even with Diosmeae. See the Jljypendix and Alias to Flinders 7 

 Voyage. 



Geography. These are common to America and India, but have not yet 

 been found on the continent of Africa, nor in any of the adjoining islands. 

 Brown Congo, 465. 



Properties. The bark of Cedrela is fragrant and resinous : that of C. 

 Toona, and of Swietenia Mahagoni, is also accounted febrifugal. The maho- 

 gany wood used by cabinet-makers is the produce of the last-mentioned plant. 

 The bark of Swietenia febrifuga, called on the Coromandel coast the Red 

 Wood Tree, is a useful tonic in India in intermittent fevers ; but Dr. Ainslie 

 found that if given beyond the extent of 4 or 5 drachms in the 24 hours, it 

 deranged the nervous system, occasioning vertigo and subsequent stupor. 

 Oxleya xanthoxyla, a large tree, is the Yellow-wood of New South Wales. 



Examples. Cedrela, Flindersia, Oxleya. 



CVII. HUMIRIACEiE. 



Humiriaceje, Adrien dc Jussicu in Aug. dc St. Hil. Flora Bras. Mcrid. 2. 87. (1829.) 



Diagnosis. Polypetalous dicotyledons, with definite hypogynous stamens, 

 concrete carpella, an entire ovarium of 5 cells, an imbricated calyx, symme- 

 trical flowers, definite pendulous ovules, a single style, albuminous seeds, fruit 

 without a woody axis, a dilated connectivum, and leaves without pellucid dots. 



Anomalies. 



Essential Character. — Calyx in 5 divisions. Petals alternate with the" lobes of the 

 calyx, and equal to them. Stamens hypogynous, 2-celled, 4 or many times as numerous as 

 the petals, monadelphous ; anthers with a fleshy connectivum, extended beyond the 2 lobes. 

 Ovarium superior, usually surrounded by an annular or toothed disk, 5-ccllccJ, with from 1 to 



