128 



Affinities. This is one of the families which comprehend genera with 

 both distinct and concrete carpella ; the latter are often entirely distinct, even 

 in the ovarium ; but most frequently there is a union, or at least a cohesion, of 

 the styles, by which their tendency to concretion may be recognised. In a 

 few instances the carpella are absolutely solitary. " The place originally 

 assigned, and for a long time preserved, for most of the genera of Xanthoxyleae, 

 proves sufficiently how near the affinity is between them and Terebintaceae. 

 If, with Messrs. Brown and Kunth, the latter are divided into several orders, 

 Xanthoxyleae will be most immediately allied to Burseraceae and Connaiaceae, 

 agreeing with the former in the genera with a simple fruit, and with the latter 

 in those with a compound one. Notwithstanding the distance which usually 

 intervenes in classifications between Aurantiaceae and Terebintaceae, there are 

 nevertheless many points of resemblance between them ; Correa has pointed 

 out a passage from one to the other through. Cookia ; Kunth, in new-model- 

 ling the genus Amyris, and in considering it the type of a distinct order, sus- 

 pects its near affinity with Aurantiaceae ; we cannot, therefore, be surprised at 

 the existence also of relations between the latter and Xanthoxyleae. A mix- 

 ture of bitter and aromatic principles, the presence of receptacles of oil that are 

 scattered over every part, which give a pellucid dotted appearance to the 

 leaves, and which cover the rind of the fruit with opaque spaces, — all these 

 characters give the two families a considerable degree of analogy. This has 

 already been indicated by M. de Jussieu in speaking of Toddalia, and in his 

 remarks upon the families of Aurantiaceae and Terebintaceae ; and it is con- 

 firmed by the continual mixture, in all large herbaria, of unexamined plants of 

 Terebintaceae, Xanthoxyleae, and Aurantiaceae. The fruit of the latter is, 

 however, extremely different ; their seeds resembling, as they do, Terebinta- 

 ceae, are on that very account at variance with Xanthoxyleae, but at the same 

 time establish a further point of affinity between them and some Rutaceous 

 plants which are destitute of albumen. Diclinous flowers, fruit separating 

 into distinct cocci, seeds solitary or twin in these cocci, enclosing a usually 

 smooth and blackish integument, which is even sometimes hollowed out on its 

 inner edge, a fleshy albumen surrounding an embryo, the radicle of which is 

 superior, are all points of analogy between Xanthoxyleae and Euphorbiaceae, 

 particularly between those which have in their sterile flowers from 4 to 8 sta- 

 mens inserted round the rudiment of a pistil, and in the fertile flowers cells 

 with 2 suspended, usually collateral, ovules. Finally, several Xanthoxjdeous 

 plants have in their habit, and especially in their foliage, a marked resem- 

 blance to the .Ash. The dioecious flowers of Fraxinus, its ovarium, the two 

 cells of which are compressed, having a single style, 2 ovules in the inside, 

 and scales on the outside, and which finally changes into a samara which is 

 1-celled and 1-seeded by abortion, all establish certain points of contact be- 

 tween Ptelea and Fraxinus." Ad. de Juss. 



Geography. Most of the species belong to America, especially to the 

 tropical parts ; some are found in temperate regions ; they arc rare in Africa ; 

 some exist in the Isles of France and Madagascar, many are natives of India 

 and China, and 1 is found in New Holland. 



Properties. Nearly all aromatic and pungent. The Fagaras are popu- 

 larly called Peppers in the countries where they arc found. Xanthoxylum 

 Clava and fraxineum are powerful sudorifics and diaphoretics ; they are 

 remarkable, according to Barton, for their extraordinary power in exciting sali- 

 vation, whether applied immediately to the gums or taken internally : these 

 two plants are reputed to have been used successfully in paralysis of the 

 muscles of the mouth and in rheumatic affections. [Bigelow, 3. 156.] Xan- 

 thoxylum caribaeum is held to be a febrifuge. Dec. A plant called Coen- 

 trilho in Brazil (Xanthoxylum hiemalc) is employed as a remedy for pain in 



