Ericales.] 



FRANCOACE.E. 



451 



Order CLXVII. FRANCOACE^.— Francoads. 



Galaclneae, Donin Edinh. New Phil. Journ. Oct. 1828. Ed. Pr. No. 146. (1830),— Francoacese, ^rf. 

 deJuss. Axn. Sc. Nat. 25. 9. (1832); Lindl. in Bot. Reg. ful. 1645 (1834); Key to Bot. 47. (1835); 

 I)C. Prodr. 7. 777.; Endl. Gen. p. 812. 



Diagnosis. — Ei-ical Exogens, with polypetalous flmvcrs, the stamens free, half sterile and 

 scale-like, and tight-slcinned seeds. 



Stemless herbaceous plants, vAxh. lobed or pinnated leaves, without stipules, 

 scape-hke, with a racemose inflorescence. Petals persistent for a long tinie. 

 deeply four-cleft. Petals 4, inserted near the base of the 

 calyx. Stamens sub-hypogjTious, four times as numerous as 

 the petals, alternately rudimentary. Ovary superior, with 4 

 cells opposite the petals ; o\'ules ntmierous ; stigma 4 -lobed, 

 sessile. Capsule membranous, 4-valved, with a locuUcidal or 

 septicidal dehiscence. Seeds numerous, minute, with a minute 

 embryo in the base of fleshy albumen. 



The importance of the character derived from the presence 

 of a very minute embryo in the base of a large quantity of 

 albumen not having been taken into account, Botanists do not 

 seem to have judged correctly of the true position of Fran- 

 coads in a natural system. They stand near Saxifrages 

 according to Don, Roseworts in the opinion of De Candolle, 

 Houseleeks according to Adrien de Jussieu, Hooker, and 

 Endhcher. It is time, that looking to the separation of the 

 cai^pels of Francoa when ripe, and its abortive stamens, a 

 case in favour of the approximation of the Order to House- 

 leeks (Crassulacese) may seem to be made out ; but then 

 Tetilla does not separate its carpels, but divides them through 

 the back ; and moreover, there is no resemblance either in 

 habit, or in the proportions of the flowers, or in the structure 

 of the fruit, or in the organisation of the seeds between that 

 Order and Francoads. There can be no doubt that the real 

 afiinity of these plants is with Dionsea, which cliiefly differs 

 in its miilocular fruit, anisomerous flowers, and the want of 

 sterile stamens. Its seeds are absolutely the same in all 

 essential respects. 



All the species hitherto discovered are Chilian. 



The juice of the Francoas is said to be regarded in Cliili as 

 cooling and sedative ; the root dyes black. Tetilla is called in 

 the same coimtry Teta de capra and Culantrillo ; according 

 to Poppig, the leaf-stalks ai-e eaten as a remedy for dysentery, 

 and are remarkable for then' astiingency. 



Stems 

 Calyx 



Francoa, C'av. 

 Ltaupanke, Feuill. 



GENERA. 



Tetilla, DC. 

 Dimorphopetahnn, Bert. 



Fig. CCCXIII. 



Aimiinosa, Miers. 

 Tetraplasiwn, Kunze. 



Numbers. Gen. 2. Sp. 5. 



CrassulacccB. 

 Position. — Pyrolaceoe. — Francoace^.- 

 DroseracecB. 



Fig. CCCXIII.— Francoa appendiculata. 1. stamens and pistil ; 2. cross section of the ovarj- ; 3. 

 perpendicular section of the seed . 



GO 



