171 



clxi. lacisteme/e. 



Lacistemeje, Marlins N. G. ct Sp. PI. 1. 151. (1821.) 



Diagnosis. Apetalous dicotyledons, with indefinite ovules, a 1-celled 

 ovarium with parietal placenta, dehiscent fruit, amentaceous monoclinous 

 flowers, and hypogynous unilateral stamens. 



Anomalies. 



Essential Character. — Calyx in several narrow division.?, inferior, covered over by a 

 dilated bractea. Corolla wanting-. Stamens hypogynous, standing on one side of the 

 ovarium, with a thick 2-lobed connectivum, at the apex of each of which lobes is placed a 

 single cell of an anther, bursting- transversely. Ovarium superior, seated in a fleshy disk, 

 1-celled, with several orula attached to parietal placenta: ; stigmas 2 or 3, sessile or on a style. 

 Fruit capsular, 1-celled, splitting into 2 or 3 valves, each of which bears a placenta in its 

 middle. Seed usually, by abortion, solitary, suspended, with a fleshy arillus ; integument 

 crustaceous ; albumen fleshy ; embryo inverted, with plane cotyledons and a superior straight 

 cylindrical radicle. — Small trees or shrubs. Leaves simple, alternate, with stipula?. Flowers 

 disposed in clustered axillary amenta. 



Affinities. Dr. Von Martius, the founder of this order, which he divides 

 from Urticeee, speaks of it thus : " The peculiar character consists in the 

 presence of a distinct perianthium, while the amentaceous inflorescence is an 

 indication of an affinity with apetalous orders of a lower grade." The same 

 botanist indicates their affinity with Chloranthere in the structure of the fila- 

 ment, and with Samydere in that of their fruit, " the monadelphous stamens 

 of both which may be perhaps considered a higher kind of evolution of the 

 fleshy disk in the bottom of the flower of Lacistema." In habit they are 

 something like Piperacese, but more arborescent. 



Geography. Natives of low places in woods in equinoctial America, 



Properties. Unknown. 



Examples. Lacistema. 



CLXII. PIPERACE/E. The Pepper Tribe. 



Piperace^, Rich, in Humb. Bonpl. ct Kunth N. G. ct Sp. PL 1. 39. t. 3. (1815); Meyer de 

 Houttuynia atquc Saururcis, (1827.) 



Diagnosis. Achlamydeous dicotyledons, with a 1-celled ovarium, erect 

 ovules, and an embryo enclosed in a sac. 

 Anomalies. 



Essential Character. — Floiccrs naked, monoclinous, with a bractea on the outside. 

 Stamens definite or indefinite, arranged on one side or all round the ovarium, to which tiny 

 adhere more or less; anthers 1- or 2-cclled, with or without a fleshy connectivum ; pollen 

 smooth. Ovarium superior, simple, 1-celled, containing a single erect orulum; sti 

 sessile, simple, rather oblique. Fruit superior, somewhat fleshy, indehiscent, 1-celled, 1-seeded. 

 Seed erect, with the embryo lying in a fleshy sac placed at that end of the seed which is oppo- 

 site the hilum, on the outside of the albumen. — Shrubs or herbaceous plants. J^cavcs opposite. 

 verticillatc, or alternate in consequence of the abortion of one of the pair of leaves, without 

 stipules. Flowers usually sessile, sometimes pedicellate, in spikes which are either terminal, 

 or axillary, or opposite the leaves. 



Affinities. As we approach the Monocotyledonous division of vegetables, 

 we find the distinction between them and Dicotyledons, as derived from their 

 anatomical structure, becoming weaker and weaker ; but at the same time it 

 appears to me that sufficient distinctions are still visible between these two 

 modes of growth. Of this Piperacere arc an instance According to Richard, 



