592 



STYRACACEiE. 



[Perigynous Exogens. 



Order CCXXVIII. STYRACACEiE.— Storaxworts. 



Styraceae, Rich. Atial. du Fr. (1808) ; Vo7i Martius, N. Gen. et Sp. PL 2, 148. ; Endl. Gen. p. 742 ; 

 Meisner,p. 250.— Symplocinese, Don. Prodr. Ncp. 144. (1825).— Styracinse, Rich, in Humb. N G. 

 etSp.'3.256. (1818),— Halesiaceas, Don in Jameson's Journ. (Dec. 1828)} Link Handb. 1. 667.— 

 Styracaceae, A. DC. Prodr. 8. 244. (1844). 



Diagnosis. — Rhamnal Exogens, with monopetalous floivers, epipetalous stamem, a part at 

 least of the ovules suspended, a long radicle, and leafy cotyledons. 



Trees or shrubs. Leaves alternate, without stipules, usually toothed. Flowers 

 axillary, either sohtary or clustered, with scale-hke bracts. The hairs often stellate. 



Fig. CCCCII. 



Calyx inferior (or superior), with 5 (or 4) imbri- 

 cated divisions, persistent. Corolla monopetalous, 

 the number of its divisions frequently different 



from that of the calyx ; with imbricated sestiva- ^ig. CCCCIII. 



tion. Stames definite or indefinite, ai'istng from 



the tube of the corolla, of unequal length, cohering in various ways, but generally in a 

 slight degree only ; anthers innate, 2-celled, bm-sting inwardly. Pollen broadly elhptical, 

 smooth. Ovary superior, or adhering to the calyx, with from 2 to 5 cells, which are 

 opposite the lobes of the calyx when they are of the same number, the partitions some- 

 times scarcely adhering in the centre. Ovules anatropal, 2 or 00 in each cell, all pen- 

 dulous or the upper ascending, the lower pendulous ; style simple ; stigma somewhat 

 capitate. Fniit drupaceous, smTnounted by or inclosed in the calyx, generally with all 

 the cells abortive except one. Seeds ascending or suspended, 5- 1, with the slender 

 embryo lying in the midst of the albumen ; radicle long, directed towards the hilum ; 

 cotyledons flat. 



Those Botanists who attach paramount importance to the condition of the corolla, in 

 deciding upon the relationship of plants, will object to the station now occupied by 

 Storaxworts, wliich, because of a sUght adliesion between the petals, are usually associ- 

 ated with Ebenads. But if a less value is assigned to that character and more to 

 the presence of albumen, then the Storaxworts will fall into the ranks of a different 

 Alliance, in which they will, however, present a distmct tendency towards the Ebena- 

 ceous structure. For this reason they are here placed among Rhamnals ; while Ebenads 

 are associated with HoUyworts and some other Orders in a neighboiu-mg Alliance. 



Such is my own opinion on this subject ; the following is the view taken by others. 

 Mr. Bentham would associate them with Ebenads and Humiriads : besides which 



Fig. CCCCIL— Styrax suberifolium.— fioofccr. 1. a flower; 2. corolla and stamens ; 3. pistil. 

 Fig. CCCCIII.— Halesia tetraptera.— 1. its fruit ; 2. a perpendicular ; 3. a transverse, section of it. 



