102 SAPINDACE. [Dodonea. 
annular or unilateral, rarely wanting. Stamens 5-10, in the great 
majority of the order (but not in the New Zealand genera) inserted 
inside the dise at the base of the ovary, more rarely outside or on 
the disc, sometimes unilateral; anthers basifixed or versatile, 
2-celled. Ovary free, central or excentric, entire lobed or partite, 
1-4-celled ; style simple or divided, usually terminal; ovules 1—2 in 
each cell, seldom more. Fruit very various, capsular or indehiscent, 
dry or succulent, entire or lobed, sometimes winged. Seeds globose 
or compressed, with or without an aril; albumen wanting or more 
rarely present; embryo generally thick, sometimes folded or 
spirally twisted, radicle short, inferior. 
A polymorphous order, exceedingly difficult to characterize as a whole, 
and often separated into 3 or 4 distinct ones. As defined above, it com- 
prises about 80 genera and between 600 and 700 species, many of them very 
imperfectly known. It is chiefly tropical, but extends through both of 
the temperate zones. The properties of the order are very various. The 
maples contain a sweetish sap, from which sugar is obtained. Several species of 
Nepheliwm, such as the Litchi and Longan, produce some of the most delicious 
of Asiatic fruits. Many species contain bitter or astringent principles, while 
others, as some of the American species cf Serjania and Paullinia, are reputed 
to be poisonous. The two genera found in New Zealand belong to the tribe 
Dodonee, which has regular flowers, stamens inserted outside the disc (not 
inside), and exalbuminous seeds. Alectryon is endemic, but Dodone@a is most 
abundant in Australia, extending also through the tropics of both hemispheres. 
Leaves simple in the New Zealand species. Disc wanting. 
Capsule membranous, often winged .. .. 1. Doponzma. 
Leaves pinnate. Disc 8-lobed. Capsule woody, turgid .. 2. ALECTRYON. 
1. DODONZA, Linn. 
Shrubs or small trees, often viscid with a resinous exudation. 
Leaves alternate, exstipulate. Flowers unisexual or polygamous, in 
terminal or axillary racemes or panicles, rarely solitary. Sepals 
2—5, imbricate or valvate. Petals wanting. Stamens 5-10, usually 
8; filaments short; anthers linear-oblong. Ovary 3-6-celled, with 
2 ovules in each cell. Capsule membranous or coriaceous, 2-—6- 
sided, septicidally 2-6-valved ; valves winged at the back. Seeds 
1-2 in each cell, lenticular or subglobose, compressed, witha thick- 
ened funicle but not arillate ; embryo spirally coiled. 
A genus comprising about 50 species, fully 40 of which are confined to 
Australia, the remainder scattered through the tropical or subtropical regions 
of both hemispheres. The New Zealand species is found in most warm 
countries. 
1. D. viscosa, Jacq. Enum. Pl. Carib. 19.—Usually a glabrous 
shrub or small tree 8-20 ft. high, but occasionally dwarfed to 1-3 ft., 
and sometimes attaining 30-36 ft.; trunk seldom more than 12 in. 
diam. ; young branches usually compressed or triangular, viscid. 
Leaves 1 —3in. long, narrow linear-obovate or oblanceolate, obtuse, 
rarely acute, entire, gradually narrowed into a short petiole. Flowers 
small, greenish or reddish, in few-flowered terminal panicles, 
