1Sz ILLUSTRATIONS OF INDIAN BOTANY. 
XXXIV.—HIPPOCRATEACEA, 
* ; 
A small order of tropical arborescent or climbing shrubs, with opposite, simple, undivided, 
toothed, or entire, somewhat coriaceous leaves, and small deciduous stipules. The flowers are 
small, bisexual, regular, arranged in racemes, corymbs, or axillary fascicles. 
‘The calyx consists of five, or very rarely four or six, small persistent imbricating sepals. The 
corolla is composed of five, equal, inferior petals, alternate with the sepals, slightly imbricated in 
estivation. ‘There are only three stamens, by some the filaments are described as distinct, by 
others they are said to be free above, but dilated and usually cohering at the base, forining a cup or 
disk-like covering to the ovary. Anthers terminal, one or 2-celled, in the former case opening 
transversely across the apex, in the latter longitudinally. Ovary superior, hid under the disk 
of the filaments, 3-celled, with several superposed ovules in each, either ranged in a single or 
double row, and attached to the axis: styles 3 cohering into |: stigmas 3 united, or distinct. 
Fruit either baccate with one or several seeds, or composed of three samaroid 2-valved carpels, 
Seeds exalbuminous, embryo straight, radicle pointing to the base, sometimes winged, coty- 
~ 
ledons flat, elliptical, oblong, somewhat fleshy. 
Arrinities. These are uncertain, some Botanists considering this order more nearly allied 
to Acerinee and Malpighiacee,while others at the head of whom is the celebrated Brown, an 
Dr. Lindley assert they are scarcely to be distinguished from Celastrineee ; the latter Botanist even 
reduces this toa suborder of Celastrinee. Bartling places these two orders next each other, while 
Meisner on the otherhandretains this order in his class Malpighine in the vicinity of Malpighiacee, 
Geocrapnicat Distrreution. This order is altogether of tropical origin, the larger 
portion appertaining to America. Some species of Hippocratea and Salacia ¢ i 
Africa, and several more of both in India. Hitherto, these two genera only, have been met with 
in India, but are very generally diffused over it, and so abundant that species of one or other 
_are to be found in almost every jungle. : 
Properties anD Uses. I am not aware of an ic i i 
: ; : y use to which any of the Indian species of 
— order = Hg Kings The a" ne one African species Salatia stints ‘ Sibls. its 
vour 1s Said to be rich and sweet. e seeds of Hii : { 
are oily and sweet. ‘ppocratea comosa, a West Indian plant, 
Remarks on Genera anv Species. The Indian flor rni 
. oe . aas already remarked only furnishes 
Species of two genera, Hippocratea and Salacia, They are easily Sacackishes when in 
