474 



OCHNACE^. 



[Hypogynous Exogens. 



Order CLXXVIII. OCHNACEiE.— Ochnads. 



Ochnacese, DC. Ann. Mus. 1/ 



(1811) ; Prodr. 1. 735. (182-t) ; Endl. Gen. ccxlviii. ; Meisner, p. 



Diagnosis. — Eutal Exogens, with a one-seeded finally apocarpous fruit, whose pericarp 

 does not la.minate, and a succulent conical torus. 



Very smooth trees, or more generally under-slirubs, sometimes downy, liaving a 

 watery juice. Leaves alternate, simple, entii'e, or toothed, with 2 stipules at the base, 



or one in the axil. Flowers usually in racemes, with 

 an articulation in the middle of the pedicels. Sepals 

 5, persistent, imbricated in aestivation. Petals hypo- 

 gynous, definite, sometimes Uvice as many as the 

 sepals, deciduous, spreading, imbricated in aestivation. 

 Stamens 5, opposite the sepals, or 10, or 00, arising 

 from a hypogj-nous disk ; filaments persistent ; an- 

 thers 2-celled, innate, opening by pores, or longitu- 

 dinally. Carpels equal m number to the petals, lying 

 upon an enlarged, tumid, fleshy disk, (the gjTiobase) ; 

 their styles combined in one ; ovule erect or pendu- 

 lous, anatropal. Fruit composed of as many pieces 

 as there were carpels, indehiscent, somewhat dinipa- 

 ceous, 1 -seeded, articulated with the gynobase, which 

 grows with their growth. Seeds without albumen 

 or nearly so ; embryo straight ; radicle next the 

 hilum ; cotyledons thick. 



The great fleshy gjTiobase, or torus, of the species 

 constituting this Order, aff'ords theu' strongest mark 

 of recognition. In this respect, indeed, there is an 

 approach to the peculiar structure of Cranesbills, or 

 even of some Mallowworts. The foliage is sometimes 

 very shining and marked with closely set veins Uke 

 those of Calophyllum, a genus of the Order of Gut- 

 tifers. From the other Orders now associated 

 with them they are often known by theu' anthers 

 opening by pores, and theii' solitary, erect ovules ; 

 but neither of them are always characteristic of 

 Oclmads. The gi*eat succulent torus must always 

 be regarded as one of their chiefest distinctions. 

 Accordmg to the views of an anonymous %\Titer in 

 the Linncea, this Order should be placed near Rose- 

 worts, and not Rueworts, \nt\\ which and the kindred 

 Orders he thinks that Ochnads have little affinity. 

 — Linncea., xiv. 248. 



a few are fi'om the Cape of Good 



Fig. CCCXXVIII. 



Found in tropical India, Africa and America 

 Hope. 



These plants are for the most part bitter. Walkera seiTata has a bitter root and 

 leaves, and is employed in Malabar, in decoction in milk or water, as a tonic, stomachic, 

 and anti-emetic. The bark of Ochna hexasperma is used in Brazil as a cure for the 

 sores produced in cattle by the punctures of insects. It probably acts as an astringent. 

 Castela Nicolsoni or Goatbush, is said to be as bitter as Quassia itself. The root and 

 leaves of Gomphia angustifolia are bitter, and employed m Malabar, in decoction in 

 milk or water, as a tonic, stomachic, and anti-emetic. G. hexasperma and Jabotapita 

 are BraziHan remedies exhibited where bitters are demanded. The oil of G. parviflora 

 is used in salads in Brazil. 



Fig. CCCXXVTII.— Ochna dubia.— DrrflfiVo^-. 

 ^. pistil ; 4. section of a ripe carpel. 



1. expanded flower ; 2. section of pistil and stamens: 



