141 



Affinities. " An order at present but ill understood, in habit and flower 

 somewhat allied to Guttiferae or Marcgraaviacene, but distinct from both in the 

 stamens being inserted into the calyx ; perhaps more directly connected with 

 Combretaceae, on account of the convolute cotyledons and inverted seeds ; and 

 even perhaps allied to some Onagrariae, on account of the abortive solitary sta- 

 men." Dec. Prodr. 3. 25. Is not the order nearer Violaceae 1 an affinity 

 strongly pointed out by the irregular flowers, 3-locular ovarium, and stipulas, 

 but impeded by the perigynous insertion of the stamens. 



Geography. Natives of equinoctial America, where they inhabit ancient 

 forests, by the banks of streams, sometimes rising up mountains to a considera- 

 ble elevation. They are often trees with large spreading heads. 



Properties. Unknown. 



Examples. Vochya, Amphilochia. Erisma. 



CXXVIII. TREMANDRE.E. 



TbemandrEjE, JR. Brown in Flinders, p. 12. (1814) ; Dec. Prodr. 1. 343. (1824.) 



Diagnosis. Polypetalous dicotyledons, with 8 or lOhypogynous distinct 

 stamens, concrete carpella, a 2-celled ovarium with a definite number of pen- 

 dulous ovules, a calyx with valvate aestivation, anthers bursting by pores, and 

 entire petals involute in aestivation. 



Anomalies. 



Essential Character. — Sepals 4 or 5, equal, with a valvular aestivation, slightly cohering 

 at the base, and deciduous. Petals equal in number to the sepals, with an involute aestivation, 

 enwrapping - the stamens, much larger than the calyx, and deciduous. Stamens hypogynous, 

 distinct, 2 before each petal, and therefore either 8 or 10; anthers 2- or 4-celled, opening by a 

 pore at the apex. Ovarium, 2-celled ; ovules from 1 to 3 in each cell, pendulous ; style 1 ; stig- 

 mas I or 2. Fruit capsular, 2-celled, 2- valved; dehiscence loculicidal. Seeds pendulous, ovate, 

 with a thickened appendage at the apex, but with no appendage about the hilum ; embryo cy- 

 lindrical, straight, in the axis of fleshy albumen ; the radicle next the hilum. — Slender heath- 

 like shrubs, with their hairs usually glandular. Leaves alternate or whorled, without stipulte, 

 entire or toothed. Pedicels solitary, axillary, 1 -flowered. 



Affinities. Not very certain ; many genera probably still remain to be 

 discovered. According to Decandolle, they are related to Polygaleae ; from 

 which they differ in a number of points, especially in their distinct stamens and 

 regular flowers ; agreeing with them in having a remarkable tumour, called 

 a caruncula, at one end of the seeds, which are also definite and pendulous in 

 both orders. 



Geography. All natives of New Holland. 



Properties. Unknown. 



Examples, Tetratheca, Tremandra. 



