498 OXALIDACEZ.—RUTACEA. 
and 933) and opposite to the petals, commonly somewhat mona- 
delphous (fig. 550); anthers 2-celled, innate. Disk none. Ovary 
superior (fig. 933), 3—5-celled, with as many distinct styles as 
there are cells; stigmas capitate or somewhat bifid. Fruit 
usually capsular and 3—5-celled and 5—10-valved, occasionally 
drupaceous and indehiscent; placentas axile (fig. 933). Seeds 
few ; sometimes provided witha fleshy integument, which bursts 
with elasticity when the fruit is ripe, and expels the seeds; 
embryo (fig. 934) straight, in cartilaginous fleshy albumen ; 
vadicle long, and turned towards the hilum ; cotyledons flat. 
Diagnosis. —Herbs, or rarely shrubs or trees, usually with 
compound exstipulate leaves. Stems continuous and not separ- 
able at the nodes. Flowers hypogynous, regular, symmetrical. 
Sepals, petals, and stamens with a quinary distribution; the 
sepals persistent and imbricate ; the petals twisted in eestivation ; 
the stamens commonly somewhat monadelphous, with 2-celled 
innate anthers. Disk absent. Styles filiform, distinct. Fruit 
3—5-celled, without a beak. Seeds few, with abundant albumen, 
a straight embryo, long radicle turned towards the hilum, and 
flat cotyledons. This order is clusely allied to the Geraniacex, to 
which it is referred by Bentham and Hooker. 
Distribution and Numbers.—These plants are generally dis- 
tributed throughout both the hot and temperate regions of the 
globe ; the shrubby species are, however, confined to the 
former. They are most abundant at the Cape of Good Hope 
and in tropical America. Lllustrative Genera :—Oxalis, Linn. ; 
Averrhoa, Linn. There are about 330 species. 
Properties and Uses.—-Chiefly remarkable for their acid juice, 
which is due to the presence of binoxalate of potassium. They 
usually possess refrigerant properties. The fruits of some are 
eaten by the natives in the East Indies, but they are too acid 
to be generally acceptable to Europeans. 
Averrhoa Bilimbi and A. Carambola yield acid fruits, known respectively 
under the names of Blimbing and Carambole. They are eaten by the 
natives in the East Indies, but are too acidulous for Europeans, who never- 
theless use them for pickles. 
Oxalis—O. Acetosella, Common Wood-Sorrel, is a common indigenous 
plant abounding in woods. It has ternate leaves, and is considered by 
many to be the true Shamrock, as its leaves open about St. Patrick’s Day. 
When infused in milk or water, it forms a pleasant refrigerant drink in 
fevers. The leaves, taken as a salad, are antiscorbutic.—O. crenata, a plant 
which is called Arracacha, together with others, as O. Deppe’, O. esculenta, 
&c., have edible tubers, which are used as substitutes for potatoes in some 
districts.—O. anthelmintica, the Mitchamitcho of Abyssinia, has very acrid 
tubers. These are much employed for their anthelmintic properties in that 
country, being frequently preferred to Kousso (Hagenia abyssinica), a 
plant belonging to the Rosace, and which is also largely used in Abyssinia 
for a similar purpose. (See Hagenia abyss‘nica.) 
Order 11. Rutracem, the Rue Order.—C haracter.—Trees, 
shrubs, or rarely herbs. Leaves exstipulate, simple or compound, 
