STAPHYLEACEAX. —SABIACEA, 621 
samara, 2-celled, each cell containing 1 or 2 seeds. Seeds as-. 
cending, without an aril, exalbuminous; embryo curved, with | 
an inferior radicle. 
Distribution and Numbers.—The plants of this order are 
natives of the temperate parts of Europe, Asia, and North 
America. None have been found in Africa and the southern 
hemisphere. Illustrative Genera: — Acer, Linn. ; Negundo, 
Ménch. There are about 50 species. , 
Properties and Uses. —These plants are chiefly remarkable for 
their saccharine sap. Their light and handsome timber is also 
much used in turnery, for certain parts of musical instruments, 
and for other purposes; and their bark is astringent, and is 
employed in different districts by the dyer in the production of 
yellow, reddish-brown, and blue colours. 
Acer.— A. saccharinum is the Sugar Maple. The Maple Sugar of America 
is obtained from this tree by making perforations into its trunk at the 
commencement of spring, and boiling down the saccharine sap which then 
exudes to the crystallising point. A few years since nearly 50 millions of 
pounds of Maple Sugar were annually produced in North America, but the 
quantity is diminishing yearly in consequence of the destruction of the 
native forests.— A. dasycarpum and other species also yield sugar. The bark 
of A. saccharinum has been also used in America in the production of a blue 
dye, and as an ingredient in the manufacture of ink.—A. campestre and A. 
Pseudo-platanus are common trees in Britain, and afford useful timber ; the 
latter is generally known under the names of the Sycamore, Greater Maple, 
and Mock-plane. It derives the latter name from the resemblance of its 
leaves to those of the true Plane-tree (see Platanus), but their venation is 
different. Its wood is also used for making charcoal. 
Order 3. STAPHYLEACEA, the Bladder-nut Order.—Charac- 
ter.—Shrubs, with opposite or rarely alternate pinnate leaves, 
which are furnished with deciduous stipules and_ stipels. 
Flowers symmetrical. Calyx 5-partite (fig. 788), coloured, im- 
bricate. Petals 5 (fig. 788), alternate with the divisions of the 
calyx, imbricate. Stamens 5 (fig. 788), alternate with the petals, 
and inserted with them on a large disk. Ovary superior, com- 
posed of 2 (fig. 788) or 3 carpels, which are more or less 
distinct ; ovwles numerous ; styles 2 or 3, united at the base. 
Fruit fleshy or membranous. Seeds ascending, with a bony 
testa ; embryo straight ; albwmen little or none. This order is 
now frequently placed in Sapindaceer. 
Distribution and Numbers.—They are scattered irregularly 
over the globe. Tilustrative Genus :—Staphylea, Linn. There 
are about 14 species. 
Properties and Uses.—The bark of some species is bitter and 
astringent, as that of Huscaphis staphyleoides. Others have oily 
and somewhat purgative seeds, as Staphylea pinnata, &c. 
Order 4, SaBtaces®, the Sabia Order.—Diagnosis.—This is a 
small order of plants, containing but 2 genera, and 9 species, 
which were formerly placed as doubtful genera of the Anacardi- 
aceze; but the Sabiacez differ essentially from the Anacardiacee, 
