177 



- '1 rees or shrubs. L*eaces alternate, without stipulu', usually toothed, turning- yellow in dry- 

 ing' ; Mowers axillary, either solitary or clustered, with scale-like bracteie. The hairs often 

 stellate. 



Affinities. The plants comprehended under this name require a careful 

 examination and settlement. They have been at one time combined with Ebe- 

 naceae, or divided into the two orders of Styraceee and Symplocaces, from both 

 which Halesiacere have been again separated by Don and Link. From Ericea; 

 they differ in habit, in the definite number of their seeds, and their inferior ova- 

 rium ; from Ebenacea in the latter character, in the perigynous insertion of the 

 stamens, in the peculiar circumstance of part of the ovules being erect and 

 part inverted, and in the style being simple. Von Martius considers Styraceae 

 as gamopetalous rather than monopetalous ; but what is the real difference in 

 the meaning of these two words ? Mr. Don says that Halesiacea? are a group 

 widely different from Styracece. Jameson's Journ. 1828. Dec. The genus 

 Symplocos is rather different in habit from Sty rax and Halesia, turning yellow 

 in drying. Jussieu refers Styrax to Meliacere, with which family the order 

 has no doubt much affinity. Decandolle considers them nearly akin to Tern- 

 strcemiacea?. Essai Medic. 203. 



Geography. Found in North and South America within and without the 

 tropics, and in tropical Asia and China. 



Properties. Some of the genus Symplocos are used in dying yellow ; 

 others, as Alstonia theiformis, are employed as tea, on account of a slight as- 

 tringency in their leaves. Storax and Benzoin, two fragrant gum-resins, com- 

 posed of resin, benzoic acid, and a peculiar aromatic principle, are the produce 

 of two species of Styrax. 



Examples. Styrax, Halesia, Symplocos. 



CLXVIII BELVISIACEiE. 



BEi.visiE.fi, /?. Brown, in Linn. Trans. 13. 222. (1820.) 



Diagnosis. Monopetalous dicotyledons, with an inferior ovarium, a plaited 

 inany-lobed corolla, alternate leaves, and indefinite ovula. 

 Anomalies. Unknown. 



Essential Character.— Calyx of 1 piece, persistent, with a divided limb. Corolla? mo- 

 nopetalous, plaited, (many-lobed or undivided, simple or double), deciduous. Stamens either 

 definite or indefinite, arising from the base of the corolla. Ovarium inferior ; style 1 ; stigma 

 lobed or angular. Fruit berried, many-seeded. Shrubs. Leaves alternate, entire, without 

 stipula;. Flowers axillary or lateral, solitary. R. Br. 



Affinities. Little is known of this obscure family, except that it is not re- 

 ferable to any order at present established. In fixing it near Styracea*, it can 

 only be said to resemble that order as much as any other. 



Geography. African shrubs or trees. 



Properties. Unknown. 



Example. Belvisia. 



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