652 



SALVADORACEiE. 



[Perigynous Exogens. 



Order CCL. SALVADORACE^ — Salvadorads. 



)litary fruit, and 



Salvadoracese, Ed. ^jr. No. cxcix. (1836) ; Endl. Gen. p. 349. 



Diagnosis. — Echial Exogens, with regular symmetncal jloivcrs, a 



naked stigma. 



Small trees or slu'ubs, with the stem shghtly tumid at the articulations. Leaves op- 

 posite, leathery, entire, very obscurely 

 vemed. Flowers minute, in loose panicles. 

 Calyx inferior, 4-leaved, minute. Corolla 

 membranous, monopetalous, 4-parted. Sta- 

 mens 4, connecting the petals into a mono- 

 petalous corolla ; anthers roimd, ■2-celIed, 

 bursting longitudinally. Ovary superior, 1- 

 celled, with a smgle sessile stigma ; ovule 

 solitary, erect. Pericarp berried ; 1 -celled, 

 indehiscent. Seed sohtary, erect. Embryo 

 amygdaloid, without albumen ; cotyledons 

 fleshy, plano-convex, fixed a little below their 

 middle to a long axis, the radicle of which 

 is inclosed within their bases. 



By one author referred to Chenopods or 

 Amaranths, notwithstanding its monopeta- 

 lous corolla and embryo ; by another to 

 Ardisiads, notwithstandmg the position of 

 its stamens and the structm-e of ovary and 

 seeds. This plant appears to be in reahty the 

 type of a quite distinct Order, the true rela- 

 tion of which I formerly supposed to be with 

 Leadworts and Plantains. With the latter 

 it agi'ees in the number of the parts of its 

 flower, its membranous corolla, and simple 

 style ; with the former more m habit, and 

 especially in the leaves, which are much hke 

 those of a Statice. It, however, differs es- 

 sentially m its polysepalous calyx, amygda- 

 loid embryo, opposite leaves, and berried 

 pericarp. In habit it agrees with Galenia, and this has probably been the cause of its 

 having found its way to Chenopods. It seems however possible, upon the whole, that 

 it should be considered an ally of Ehretiads or Verbeues, ha\ing but one carpel and 

 symmetrical tetrandrous flowers. 



The species are found m India, Syria, and North Africa. 



Salvadora persica, the Mustard-tree of Scripture, as has been demonstrated by 

 Dr. Royle, has a succulent fruit which has a strong aromatic smell, and tastes hke Garden- 

 cress. The bark of the root is remarkably acrid ; biniised and applied to the skin it 

 soon raises blisters, for which the natives of India often use it. As a stimulant it pro- 

 mises to be a medicine of considerable power. The leaves of S. indica ai'e purgative ; 

 the fruit is said to be eatable. 



Fig. CCCCXXXVl 



GENUS. 

 Salvadora, L. 



Numbers. Gen. 1. Sp. 2. 



PlumhaginacecB 1 

 Position.— Elu'etiaceee ? — Salvadorace.e. — Verbenaceoe ? 

 OleacecB ? 



Fig. CCCCXXXVl.— Salvadora persica. 1. flower ; 2. a section of its fruit. 



