240 

 CCXXIII. HELIOTROPICEjE. The Heliotrope Tribe. 



Heliotropice.e, Martius N. G. et Sp. 2. 75. and 138. (1828.) 



Diagnosis. Monopetalous dicotyledons, with regular flowers, a superior 

 4-celled ovarium with solitary pendulous ovules, 5 stamens, and exalbuminous 

 seeds with plano-convex cotyledons. 



Anomalies. 



Essential Character. — Calyx inferior, hypogynous, 5-parted, persistent. Corolla hypo- 

 gynous, monopetalous, regular, with a 5-parted limb, the segments of which are imbricated 

 in aestivation. Stamens arising from the tube of the corolla, and alternate with the segments ; 

 anthers innate ; pollen globose. Ovarium entire, 4-celled, with 4 pendulous ovula ; style ter- 

 minal, simple ; stigma simple. Fruit drupaceous, separable into 4 pieces, terminated by the 

 persistent style. Seeds pendulous, solitary ; embryo without albumen, with fleshy plano-con- 

 vex cotyledons and a minute radicle curved downwards and turned towards the hilum. — Half 

 shrubby and herbaceous plants, covered over with asperities. Leaves alternate, simple, without 

 stipule. Flowers in terminal fascicles, cymes, or corymbs. 



Affinities. Distinguished from Boraginea^ solely by having a style pro- 

 ceeding from the apex of an undivided ovarium of several cells, by the drupa- 

 ceous fruit separating in pieces, and the absence of albumen. 



Geography. Common in the hotter parts of South America, the East and 

 West Indies, the north of Africa, and the Levant ; a few are found in the south 

 of Europe and the southern states of America, but none appear to dwell fur- 

 ther north than the parallel of 45°. 



Properties. Unknown, except that some of the species are remarkable for 

 their fragrance. Most of them are insignificant weeds. 



Examples. Heliotropium, Preslea. 



CCXXIV. EHRETIACE^. 



Ehbetiacej3, Martius N. G. et Sp. 2. 136. (1828.) 



Diagnosis. Monopetalous dicotyledons, with regular flowers, a superior 

 2- or more-celled ovarium with suspended ovules, 5 lobes to the calyx, and 

 albuminous seeds. 



Anomalies. 



Essential Character. — Calyx inferior, 5-parted, imbricated in aestivation. Corolla mo- 

 nopetalous, tubular, with as many segments of its limb as the calyx, with an imbricated esti- 

 vation. Stamens alternate with the segments of the corolla, and equal to them in number, 

 arising from the bottom of the tube ; anthers innate ; pollen minute, elliptical. Ovarium 

 simple, seated in an annular disk, 2- or more celled ; style terminal ; stigma simple, 2-lobed,; 

 ovules suspended. Fruit drupaceous, with as many stems as there are true cells of the ova- 

 rium. Seed suspended, solitary ; testa simple, thin ; embryo in the midst of thin fleshy albu- 

 men ; radicle superior ; cotyledons plano-convex. — Trees or shrubs, with a harsh pubescence. 

 Leaves simple, alternate, without stipuhe. Flowers corymbose. 



Affinities. Another branch of the old Boragincrc, distinguished by a 

 terminal style proceeding from the apex of a perfectly concrete ovarium of 4 

 cells, a baccate fruit, and seeds furnished with thin fleshy albumen. Of these 

 characters I conceive the former to be good, and the latter bad ; and the order 

 itself, which I adopt upon the authority of Dr. Von Martius, hardly tenable, 

 differing from Heliotropiceae chiefly in its succulent (not dry) separable 

 fruit. 



