m.] SAPINDACEy^. 191 



A garden tree with shining, pinnate (tri- to septem-foHo- 

 late) leaves, and terminal and axillary panicles of numerous 

 small, apetalous, polygamous flowers. 



This large Natural Order includes several Indian genera 

 differing much in habit as well as in some of the more 

 technical characters of the flower. Note especially : 



Cardiospermum Halicacabum ; a much-branched climbing 

 herb, with twice-ternate, alternate leaves, umbellate panicles 

 of small irregular flowers, and inflated membranous capsules : 



Dodoncea viscosa ; a shrub with narrow, entire, usually 

 undivided, rather viscid leaves, small greenish-yellow, uni- 

 sexual flowers, and winged capsules : and 



Maple {Acer^ any species). Trees (of the mountains of 

 Northern India) with simple, opposite, usually palmi-veined 

 and lobed leaves, and regular, racemose or corymbose, 

 greenish flowers. 



Observe the pulpy aril surrounding the seed of the 

 Litchi, rendering it an esteemed dessert fruit in India and 

 China : the slender tendrils at the end of the peduncle of 

 Cardiospermum, and the heart-shaped hilum of its round 

 seeds, to which the name Cardiospermum (Heart-seed) refers. 



It is generally characteristic of the Family to have the 

 flowers unsymmetrical, owing to the number of stamens not 

 corresponding (either the same or as a multiple) with that 

 of the petals and sepals. 



The Longan is the fruit of a near ally of the Litchi, — 

 Euphoj'ia Loiigana. The structure of the fruit is similar to 

 that of the Litchi. In each of them the lobes of the ovary 

 (carpels), as they mature, become almost or wholly free from 

 each other. The carpels are one-seeded in both. 



Owing to the presence of a saponaceous principle in the 

 fruit of several species of SapinduSy the drupes may be used 



