1 64 



BIX ACE ^. 



[chap. 



Ceylon, and in the Malay Peninsula, diftering in arborescent 

 habit, and small, nearly regular flowers. 



II. Natural Order, Bixacece. — The Annatto Family. 



Trees or shrubs with alternate, simple leaves. Flowers 

 unisexual or hermaphrodite, often apetalous. Stamens 

 indefinite. Seeds albuminous. 



Type — The Annatto {Bixa Orelland). 



A small tree, with alternate, entire leaves, terminal pani- 

 cles of beautiful white flowers and echinate capsules. (A 

 South American tree cultivated in India.) 



Two distinct Sub-types occur in India, represented by — 



1. Flacourtia sepiaria, a small spinose shrub, with simple, 

 serrate leaves, and unisexual, apetalous flowers, bearing 

 pleasantly acid fruit, common on uncultivated land ; and 



2. Hyd7iocarpus inehrians, a large tree, with alternate, 

 serrate leaves, and dioecious, axillary, white flowers. 



Observe the loculicidal dehiscence of the capsules of 

 Bixa^ and the red pulp of the seed, which is collected in 

 South America for export to Europe as Annatto, used as a 

 silk-dye and to stain cheese. 



