560 



POMACES. 



[Perigynous Exogens. 



plants of this Sub-order are very apt to produce monstrous flowers, which depart 

 sometimes in a most remarkable degree from their normal state. No Order can be 

 more instructively studied with a view to morphological inqmries ; particularly the 

 common Pear when in blossom. A remarkable permanent monster of this kind, with 

 14 styles, 14 ovaries, and a calyx with 10 di^dsions in two rows, is described in the 

 Revue EncyclopeoAque, 43. 762. ; it exhibits a tendency, on the part of Appleworts, 

 to assume the mdefinite ovaries and double calyx of Roseworts. I have seen a Pnmus 

 in a similar state. Almondworts are known by theh' superior soUtary ovary and 

 drupaceous fruit. 



Fovmd plentifully in Europe, Northern Asia, the mountains of India, and North 

 America ; rare in Mexico, unknown in Africa, except on its northern shore, and in 

 Madeu'a, and entu'ely absent from the southern hemisphere ; a sohtary species is found 

 in the Sand\\-ich Islands. 



The fruit as an article of the dessert, and the flowers for their beauty, are the 

 chief peculiarities of this Order, which consists exclusively of trees and bushes, 

 without any herbaceous plant. The Apple, the Pear, the Sorb, the Medlar, the 

 Quince, the Ser\dce, the Rowan-tree or Movmtain Ash, are aU well known, either 

 for their beauty or their use. The wood of the Pear is almost as hard as Box, for 

 which it is even substituted by wood engravers ; the timber of the Beam-tree 

 (Pyinis Aria) is invaluable for axletrees. The bark of Photinia dubia is used in 

 Nipal for dyeing scarlet. Mahc acid is contained, in considerable quantity, in Apples ; 

 it is also almost the sole acidifying principle of the berries of the ^loimtain Ash 

 (P}Tus Aucuparia). The mucilaginous seeds of the Quince are employed in medicine ; 

 its fragrant fruits are used in the preparation of a kind of wine analogous to Cider and 

 Perry, obtained from Apples and Pears. Wohler has found cenanthic ether in the rind 

 of the Quince. Prussic acid occurs in their seeds, and is even abundant in Cotoneaster 

 Uva Ursi, and microphylla. The flowers, bark, and root of Pyrus Aucuparia contain 

 so much of the pecuhar essential Oil of Almonds as to yield' fully as much hydrocyanic 

 acid as that procurable from an equal weight of CheiTy-laurel leaves. — Buchn. Rep. 

 27. 238. 



GENERA. 



Cydonia, Tounief. 



Chcenomeles, Lindl. 

 Pyrus, Lindl. 



Pyrophorum, Neck. 



Apyrophorum, Neck. 



Lazarolus, Medik. 



Halmia, Medik. 



Malus, Toumef. 



Aria, DC. 

 Tomiinaria, DC. 

 Eriolobus, DC. 

 Sorhus, Linn. 

 Aucuparia, Medik. 

 Adenorhachis , DC. 

 Aronia, Pers. 

 Chamaimspilus , DC. 



Osteomeles, Lindl. 

 Mespilus, Lindl. 



Mespilophora, Neck. 

 Amelanchier, Medik. 



Petromeles, Jacq. f. 

 Peraphyllum, J^'utt, 

 Cotoneaster, Medik. 

 Nagelia, Lindl. 



Hesperomeles, Lindl, 

 Eriobotrya , Lindl, 

 Photinia, Lindl. 

 Mj-riomeles, Lindl. 

 Chamaemeles, Lindl. 

 Rhaphiolepis, Lindl. 

 CratJBgus, Linn, 

 Stranvaesia, Lindl. 



Numbers. Gen. 16. Sp. 200. 



Onagracece. 

 Position. — Rosaceae. — Pomaces. — Drupaceae. 

 Myrtacece. 



