742 



HOMALIACE.E. 



[Epigynous Exogens. 



Order CCLXXXIV. HOMALIACE^.— Homaliads. 



HomalineK, R. Brown in Congo, (1818) ; J>C. Prodr. 2. 53. (1825) ; Endl. Gen. cxcvi. j Meis^ier, p. 73. 



Diagnosis. — Cactcd Exogens, with distinct sepals and petals, stamens opposite the petals, 

 separate styles, and pendulous ovules. 



Trees or slirubs. Leaves alternate, with deciduous stipules, or 0, toothed or entire. 

 Flowers in spikes, racemes, or panicles, without bracts. Calyx funnel-shaped, adherent, 



with from 5 to 15 divisions. Petals alter- 

 nate with the segments of the calyx, and 

 equal to them in number. Glands present 

 in front of the segments of the calyx. 

 Stamens arising from the base of the. 

 petals, either singly or in threes or sixes ; 

 anthers 2 -.celled, opening longitudinally. 

 Ovary adherent, 1-ceUed, \vith numerous 

 anatropal pendulous ovules attached to 2, 

 3, or 5 parietal placentae ; styles from 3 to 

 5, simple, fihform, or subulate. Fioiit 

 bemed or capsular. Seeds small, ovate, 

 or angular, with an embryo in the middle 

 of a little fleshy albumen, and a thick 

 superior radicle. 



Although these plants, ■v\'ith shrubby 

 stems, small flowers, and highly-developed 

 leaves, exhibit no other resemblance to 

 Indian Figs than what resides in their 

 inferior ovary, parietal placentae, and 

 scarcely albuminous seeds, yet, if we com- 

 pare them with Loasads, their affinity 

 becomes sufficiently e\ddent ; and as Loa- 

 sads are akin to Indian Figs in the first 

 degree, so Homahads are akin in the 

 second degree. That Homahads and 

 Loasads stand nearly on the same Hne, is 

 sho-rni by comparing such plants as Homa- 

 lium with Acrolasia ; and although it 

 to render the connection between those 



Fig. CCCCXCVI. 



cannot be denied that links are wanting 

 genera complete, yet enough of resemblance exists to warrant this sort of comparison. 

 In fact, the glands of Homahum are probably an altered form of the abortive stamina 

 of Loasa. 



According to Brown, Homahads are related to Passionflowers, especially to Smeath- 

 mannia, from which then' uaferior ovary distinguishes them, to say nothing of their 

 want of stipvdes and glands on the leaves, of the presence of glands at the base of the 

 floral envelopes, and of their erect and very difierent habit. De Candolle places them 

 between Samyds and Chailletiads, describing them as apetalous, but classing them with 

 his Dichlamyds ; Bro^\^l also understands them as without petals ; but I confess I 

 cannot comprehend what petals are, if the inner series of the floral envelopes of these 

 plants be not so ; an opinion which their supposed affinity with Passionflowers would 

 confirm, if analogy could be admitted as evidence in cases which can be decided without 

 it. The statement of De Candolle, that the stamens are opposite the sepals, is inaccurate; 

 they are, as Brown describes them, opposite the petals. 



The species are all tropical, and chiefly African or Indian. Four or five are described 

 from the West Indies and South America. 



The root of some American species of Homahum is astringent, and employed against 

 blennorrhoea. 



Fig. CCCCXCVI.— Byrsanthus BTowmi.—Deksseri. 1. diagram of the flower ; 2. section of a flower; 

 3. section across the ovary ; 4. section of a seed. 



