Berberales.] 



CYRILLACE.E. 



445 



Order CLXIII. CYRILLACE^.— Cyrillads. 



Cyrilleae, Torrey and Gray, Fl. Bor. Am. 1, 256. (1838) ; Endl. Ench. p. 578. 



Diagnosis. — Berheral Fxogem, loiih regular symmetrical flowers, axile placentee, stamens 

 alteiimte with the petals if equal to them in nvmibery pendulous ovules, and an im- 

 bricated corolla. 



Shrubs, with evergreen simple leaves ^^dthout stipules. Flowers usually in racemes. 

 Calyx 4-5-parted. Petals 5, distinct, 

 hypogynous, wth an imbricated sesti- 

 vatioD. Stamens 5 or 10, hypogynous. 

 Anthers bursting lengthwise. Ovary 

 2-3-4-celled, always composed of some 

 number of carpels different from that 

 of the calyx, corolla and stamens ; 

 ovules solitary, pendulous ; style 

 short ; stigma with as many lobes as 

 there are cells of the ovary. Fruit 

 a succulent capsule, or a drupe. Seeds in- 

 verted. Embryo in the axis of a very large 

 quantity of albumen, with a very long superior 

 radicle. 



There can be no doubt that these plants are 

 nearly related to Olacads, from which they 

 are principally known by their imbricate, not 

 valvate petals, destitute of all traces of hairi- 

 ness. That being so, the connection between 

 Olacads and Heathworts is estabhshed ; for 

 Ledum and Clethi*a in the latter come very 

 near Cyrillads ; these are, however, forced 

 into a different AUiance by the want of any 

 definite proportion between the whole of the 

 parts of the flower. Endlicher suggests an 

 affinity between Cyrillads and Hollyworts. 

 The genus Pickeringia, now regarded as a 

 sub-genus of Ardisia, seems to connect this Order with Ardisiads. 



They are all inhabitants of North America. 



Nothing has been recorded of any uses to which they could be applied. 



GENERA. 



CyrlUa, Linn. 

 Mylocaryum, W. 



Cliftonia, Sol. 



Walteriana, Fraz. 

 Elliottia, Muhl. 



Fig. CCCIX. 



Numbers. Gen. 3. Sp. 5. 



? Myrsinacece. 

 Position. — Pittosporacese. — Cyrillace^. — Olacacese. 



E^icacece. 



Fig. CCCIX.— Mylocaryum ligustrinum. 1. a flower; 2. stamens; 3. ovary; 4. section of seed. 



