510 CHAILLETIACEH.—OLACACEA. 
ICACINACEZ. 
Swietenia Mahagoni supplies the well-known valuable wood called Ma- 
hogany. This is chiefly imported from Honduras and Cuba, and also to 
some extent from other West Indian islands. Its bark possesses febrifugal 
properties. 
Order 17. CHAILLETIACE®, the Chailletia Order.—Charac- 
ter.—Treesor shrubs. Leuvesalternate, entire, stipulate. Calyx 
inferior, with 5 sepals; estivation induplicate. Stamens 10, 
perigynous, in two alternate whorls, the outer petaloid and 
sterile ; but the latter whorl more resembles a corolla. Orary 
superior, 2—38-celled, with twin suspended ovules. Fruit dry, 
1—3 celled. Seeds exalbuminous. This order has been variously 
placed, but is more commonly referred here. 
Distribution and Numbers.—Natives of tropical regions. 
Illustrative Genera :—Chailletia, DC. ; Stephanopodium, Popp. 
There are about 10 species. 
Properties and Uses. — Unimportant. The fruit of Chail- 
letia toxicaria, a native of Sierra Leone, is commonly called 
Ratsbane on account of its poisonous nature. 
Cohort 2. Olacales.—Calyx imbricate. Gynoecium syncarpous ; 
ovules suspended ; raphe dorsal. Seeds albuminous. 
Order 1. OLAcAcEa, the Olax Order.—C haracter.—Tvrees 
or shrubs, with alternate simple entire exstipulate leaves. Flowers 
small, regular, axillary. Calyx minute, monosepalous, generally 
enlarging so as to cover the fruit ; wstivation imbricate. Petals 
hypogynous, valvate in estivation. Stamens definite, partly 
sterile and partly fertile; the latter opposite to the petals, 
inserted upon or outside of a conspicuous disk; anthers 2-celled, 
bursting longitudinally. Ovary free, often imbedded in the disk ; 
ovules suspended from a free central placenta. Frwit drupaceous. 
Seed without integuments, solitary ; embryo minute; albwmen 
fleshy. 
Distribution and Numbers.—Natives of tropical or sub-tropical 
regions. Illustrative Genera :—Olax, Linn. ; Liriosma, Pépp. 
The number of species is doubtful. 
Properties and Uses.—Some have fragrant flowers. The 
fruit of Ximenia americana is eaten in Senegal. The leaves of 
Olax zeylanica are used by the Cingalese in their curries, Xc., 
and the wood in putrid fevers. The wood of Heisteria coccinea 
is considered by some to furnish the Partridge-wood of cabinet- 
makers. (See Guettarda.) 
Order 2. TcactNacE&, the Icacina Order.-—Diagnosis.—This 
is an order of plants consisting of evergreen trees and shrubs, 
and formerly included in the order Olacacez ; but, as shown 
by Miers, they are clearly distinguished from that order, as 
follows :—‘ They differ most essentially in the calyx being 
always small, persistent, and unchanged, and never increasing 
with the growth of the fruit ; the stamens being always alternate 
