148 



CX XXIII. TURNERACE.E. 



Loaseje, § Turneracea?, Kunth N.G. et Sp. 6. 123. (1S23).— Tuknerace^;. Dec. Prodr. 3. 345. 



(1828.) 



Diagnosis. Polypetalous dicotyledons, with 5 perigynous stamens, con- 

 crete carpella, a superior 1 -celled ovarium with 3 parietal placentae, corolla with 

 a twisted aestivation, and embryo in the midst of fleshy albumen. 



Anomalies. 



Essential Character. — Calyx inferior, often coloured, with 5 equal lobes, imbricated in 

 aestivation. Petals 5, inserted into the tube of the calyx, equal, with a twisted aestivation. Sta- 

 mens 5, inserted into the tube of the calyx below the petals, with which they are alternate ; 

 filaments distinct ; anthers oblong, erect, 2-celled. Ovarium superior, 1-celled, with 3 parietal 

 placentas ; ovules indefinite ; styles 3 or 6, cohering 1 more or less, and simple branched or mul- 

 tifid at the apex. Capsule 3-valved, 1-celled, opening' from the point about as far as the mid- 

 dle, the valves bearing the placentas in the middle. Seeds with a thin membranous arillus on 

 one side, crustaceous, reticulated ; embryo slightly curved, in the middle of fleshy albumen ; 

 radicle turned towards the hilum ; cotyledons somewhat plano-convex. — Herbaceous plants, 

 having sometimes a tendency to become shrubby, with a simple pubescence, which does not 

 sting. Leaves alternate, simple, without stipules, with occasionally 2 glands at the apex of the 

 petiole. Flowers axillary, their pedicel either distinct or cohering with the petiole ; with 2 

 bracteolae. Petals yellowish, rarely blue. 



Affinities. Placed by Decandolle between Loaseae and Fouquieracea?, 

 chiefly, it should seem, on account of its manifest relation to the former, and its 

 perigynous stamens. To me it appears that those botanists are right who 

 place it in the vicinity of Cistineae, from which it differs more in the insertion of 

 the stamens, and in the approximation of the radicle to the hilum, than in any 

 other character, agreeing with them very much in habit. With Malvaceae 

 they agree in the twisted aestivation of the corolla, and in habit. With Loaseae 

 and Passifloreae they have also much in common ; and the circumstance of 

 their certain relationship to Cistineae gives great weight to the ingenious ap- 

 proximation, by M. Du Petit Thouars, of Passifloreae to Violaceae. The pre- 

 sence of glands upon the ends of the petioles of Turneraceae is a confirmation 

 of their affinity to the former. They are distinguished from Loaseae by their 

 fruit being superior and 1-celled, with parietal placentas, and by their definite 

 stamens ; the former character is, however, weakened by the nearly superior 

 fruit of some Loaseae. 



Geography. Natives exclusively of the West Indies and South America : 

 [with the exception of Turnera cistoides, which extends as far north as Savan- 

 nah.] There seems no good reason for supposing Turnera trioniflora to b 

 native of Japan. 



Properties. Unknown. 



Examples. Turnera. Piriqueta. 



CXXXIV. CISTINE.E. The Rock-Rose Tribe. 



Cisti, Juss. Gen. 294. (1739).— Cistoideje, Vent. Tabl. 3.219. (1799).— Cistinej;, Dec. Prodr- 

 1. 263. (1824) ; Lindl. Synops. 36. (1829.) 



Diagnosis. Polypetalous dicotyledons, with indefinite hypogynous stamens, 

 concrete carpella, a 1-celled ovarium with narrow parietal placentae, 5 sepals, 

 and an inverted embryo. 



Anomalies 



