562 HOMALIACEX.—LOASACEX.—TU RNERACEA. 
Properties and Uses.—Of little importance. They are com- 
monly bitter and astringent. 
Casearia.—C. ulmifolia, a native of Brazil, is there highly esteemed as a 
remedy against snake-bites. Some species of Casearia have febrifugal pro- 
perties, and others are said to be poisonous.— C. esculenta has purgative roots. 
Order 2. HoMALIAcE&, the Homalium Order.—C haracter. 
Trees or shrubs, with alternate leaves. Calyx superior, funnel- 
shaped, with from 5—15 divisions. Petals equal in number to, 
and alternate with, the divisions of the calyx. Stamens oppo- 
site to the petals and inserted on them, either distinct or in 
bundles of 3 or 6. Ovary inferior, 1-celled ; placentas parietal ; 
ovules numerous; styles 3—5. Fruit a capsule or berry. Seeds 
small; embryo in the axis of a little fleshy albumen. This 
order is included in Samydacee by Bentham and Hooker. 
Distribution and Numbers.-—They are natives of the tropical 
parts of India, Africa, and America. Tllustratwe Genera :— 
Homalium, Jacq.; Trimeria, Harv. There are about 36 
species. 
Properties and Uses.—Some species of Homaliwm are astrin- 
gent, but nothing is known of the properties of the other 
genera. f 
Order 3. LOASACE®, the Chili Nettle Order.—C haracter. — 
Herbaceous plants, with stiff hairs or stinging glands. Leaves 
exstipulate. Calyx superior, 4- or 5-parted, persistent. Petals 
5 or 10, in 2 whorls, often hooded. Stamens numerous, in 
several whorls, either distinct or united in bundles. Ovary 
inferior, 1-celled, with several parietal placentas, or 1 axile 
placenta; style 1; ovules anatropous. Fruit capsular or succu- 
lent. Seeds with a loose testa, and having an embryo lying in 
the axis of fleshy albumen. 
Distribution and Numbers.—They are all natives of North 
and South America. Illustrative Genera :—Bartonia, Mueh.; 
Loasa, Adans. There are about 70 species. 
Properties and Uses.—Some of the species are remarkable 
for their stinging glands; hence their common name of Chili 
Nettles. Several species are cultivated on account of the beauty 
of their flowers. A Mexican species, Mentzelia hispida, is re- 
puted to possess a purgative root. 
Order 4. TURNERACEH, the Turnera Order.—Character.— 
Herbaceous or somewhat shrubby plants. Leaves alternate, 
exstipulate, hairy. Flowers axillary. Calyx inferior, 5-lobed, 
imbricate in zestivation. Petals 5, equal, twisted in estivation, 
without a corona, perigynous, deciduous. Stamens 5, alternate 
with the petals, perigynous ; filaments distinct. Ovary 1-celled, 
superior, with 3 parietal placentas ; styles 3, more or less united 
at the base, forked or branched above. Fruit capsular, 1-celled, 
