168 



dicine by Hindoo practitioners, to ease the pain of griping in the colic. Ains- 

 lie, 2. 2. The leaves of P. hispidum are said by Humboldt to be substituted, 

 in South America, for tobacco. JV. G. and Sp. 2. 178. 

 Examples. Rheum, Rumex, Coccoloba. 



CLVII. BEGONIACE^. 



BEGONiACfijE, R. Brown in Congo, 454. (1818) ; Link Hanb. 1. 309- (1829) ; Martius H. Reg 



Mon. (1829.) 



Diagnosis. Apetalous dicotyledons, with a 3-celled winged ovarium, inde- 

 finite ovules an irregular imbricated calyx, and membranous stipulae. 

 Anomalies. 



Essential CilARACTEft. — Flowers diclinous. Sepalssupcrior coloured ; in the staminiferous 4, 

 2 within the others and smaller ; in the pistilliferous 5, imbricated, two smaller than the rest. Sta-i 

 mens indefinite, distinct or combined into a solid column ; anthers collected in a head, 2-celled 

 continuous with the filaments, clavate, the connectivum very thick, the cells minute, bursting 

 longitudinally. Ovarium inferior, winged, 3-celled, with 3 double polyspermous placentae in 

 the axi9 ; stigmas 3, 2-lobed, sessile, somewhat spiral. Fruit membranous, capsular, winged, 

 3-celled, with an indefinite number of minute seeds ; bursting by slits at the base on each side 

 of the wings. Seeds with a transparent thin testa marked by reticulations, which are oblong 

 at the sides and contracted at either extremity ; embryo very cellular, without albumen, with 

 a blunt round radicle next the hilum. — Herbaceous plants or under-shrubs, with an acid juice. 

 Leaves alternate, toothed, oblique at the base. Stipulce scarious. Flowers pink, in cymes. 



Affinities. It is not easy to fix with precision the relative position of this 

 order : I formerly thought it related to Hydrangeas, chiefly on account of the 

 striking resemblance in the areolations of the seeds, and the irregularity of the 

 flowers. It is probable, however, that more importance should be attributed to 

 the acid juice and membranous large stipule, in which case Begoniacese are 

 most nearly related to Polygoneae, many of which have a coloured calyx and 

 3-cornered fruit from which they differ in the structure of the fruit and seed. 

 Link places them near Umbelhferae ; but I know not upon what grounds. 



Geography. Common hi the West Indies, South America, and the East 

 Indies. Mr. Brown remarks, that no species has been found on the continent 

 of Africa, though several have been found in Madagascar and the Isles of 

 France and Bourbon, and 1 in the Island of Johanna. Congo, 464. 



Properties. The roots are astringent and slightly bitter. Those of 2 

 species are used in Peru with success! in cases of a flux of blood, or in other 

 visceral diseases in which astringents are employed. They are also said to be 

 useful in cases of scurvy, and in certain fevers. 



Example. Begonia. 



CLVIII. NYCTAGINEiE. The Marvel of Peru Tribe, 



Nyctaqines, Juss. Gen, 90. (1789); R. BfownProdr. 421. (1810.) 



Diagnosis. Apetalous dicotyledons, with definite ascending ovula, an infe- 

 rior tubular (often coloured) calyx hardening at the base, hypogynous stamens, 

 and embryo surrounding floury albumen. 



Anomalies. 



