jl4 | STACKHOUSIACEX.— RHAMNACEZ. 
3 samaroid carpels. Seeds definite, exalbuminous; embryo 
straight ; radicle inferior. This order is referred to Celastracex 
by Bentham and Hooker. 
Distribution and Numbers.—They abound principally in 
South America; some are also found in Africa and the Hast 
Indies. TIIlustratwe Genera :—Hippocratea, Linn.; Tontelea, 
Aubl. There are about 86 species. 
Properties and Uses.—Very little is known generally of the 
plants of this order. The fruit of several Brazilian species of 
Tontelea is edible, and in Sierra Leone that of T. pyriformis is de- 
scribed as very pleasant. Hippocratea comosa yields nuts of an oily 
and sweet nature. The inner yellow bark of Kokoona zeylanicais 
employed in Ceylon asa febrifuge and sternutatory, and as a dye. 
Order 3. STACKHOUSIACE®X, the Stackhousia Order.—Cha- 
racter.—AHerbs or rarely shrubs, with simple, entire, alternate, 
minutely stipulate leaves. Calyx 5-cleft, with its tube inflated. 
Petals 5, united below into a tube, arising from the top of the 
tube of the calyx, and having a narrow stellate limb. Stamens 
5, distinct, of unequal length, perigynous. Ovary superior, 3- 
or 5-celled, each cell containing one erect ovule; styles 3 or 5, 
distinct or united at the base. fruit consisting of from 3—-5 
indehiscent carpels, attached to a central persistent column. 
Seeds with fleshy albumen; embryo erect ; radicle inferior. 
Distribution and Numbers.—Natives of Australia.  Illus- 
trative Genera:—Stackhousia, Smith; Tripterococcus, Endl. 
There are about 20 species. 
Properties and Uses.—Unknown. 
Order 4. RHamMNACE, the Buckthorn Order.—Character. 
Shrubs or small trees, which are often spiny. Leaves simple, 
alternate or rarely opposite ; stipules small or wanting. lowers 
small, usually perfect (fig. 793) or sometimes unisexual. Calyx 
4—5-cleft, with a valvate eestivation (fig. 793). Disk fleshy, 
lining the tube of the calyx. Petals equal in number to the 
divisions of the calyx (jig. 793), and inserted into its throat, 
hooded or convolute, sometimes wanting. Stamens perigynous, 
equal in number to the petals (fig. 793) and opposite to them 
when present, and alternate to the divisions of the calyx. Ovary 
(fig. 793) superior or half superior, immersed in the disk, 2- 3- 
or 4-celled; ovules one in each cell, erect. Fruit dry and 
capsular, or fleshy and indehiscent. Sreds one in each cell, 
erect, usually with fleshy albumen, but this is sometimes want- 
ing, exarillate ; embryo long, with a short inferior radicle, and 
large flat cotyledons. : 
Diagnosis.—Small trees or shrubs, with simple leaves and 
small regular usually perfect flowers; rarely unisexual, Calyx 
4—5-parted, valvate, with the tube coated with a disk. Petals 
and stamens distinct, perigynous, and equal in number to the 
divisions of the calyx ; the petals sometimes wanting, but, when 
present, opposite to the stamens. Ovary more or less superior, 
