636 CRESCENTIACEX.— BIGNONIACEA. 
5-partite. Corolla 5-lobed, perigynous or hypogynous. Stamens 
diandrous or didynamous with the rudiment of a fifth; anthers 
2-celled, frequently united. Ovary of 2 carpels, antero-posterior, 
superior or half-inferior, 1-celled, surrounded by an annular 
fleshy disk or by glands; style 1. Frwit capsular or succulent, 
1-celled, with 2-lobed parietal placentas. Seeds numerous, with 
or without albumen ; ; embryo with minute cotyledons, and a long 
radicle. 
Division of the Order and Illustrate Genera.—The order 
has been divided into two sub-orders or tribes as follows :— 
Sub-order 1. GESNERE#.—Ovary partially adherent to the 
calyx. Seeds albuminous. Illustrative Genera :—Gesnera, 
Mart. ; Gloxinia, Hérit. 
Sub-order 2. CyrTaNDRE#.—Ovary not adherent to the calyx. 
Seeds exalbuminous. Illustrate Genera :—Aischynanthus, 
Jack. ; Cyrtandra, Forst. 
Distribution and Numbers.-—Chiefly natives of warm or 
tropical regions. The Gesneree are all American; the Cyrtandrez 
are more scattered. There are about 300 species. 
Properties and Uses.—Of little importance except for the 
beauty of their flowers, which are common objects of cultivation 
in this country. Some Gesnerez have edible fruits. 
Order 6. CRESCENTIACE®, the Crescentia Order.—C harac- 
ter.—Small trees. Leaves simple, alternate or clustered, ex- 
stipulate. Flowers irregular, growing out of old branches or 
stems. Calyx free, entire at first, afterwards splitting irregularly. 
Corolla somewhat bilabiate. Stamens 4, didynamous, with a 
rudimentary fifth ; anthers 2-celled. Ovary surrounded by an 
annular disk, 1-celled ; placentas 2—4, parietal ; style1l. Fruit 
indehiscent, woody. Seeds large, numerous, wingless, exal- 
buminous ; cotyledons large, amygdaloid; radicle short. This 
order is made a tribe of Biqnoniacexr by Bentham and Hooker. 
Distribution and Numbers.—-Natives exclusively of tropical 
regions. Illustrative Genera :—Crescentia, Linn.; Parmentiera, 
DC. There are about 36 species. 
Properties and Uses. —Unimportant. 
Crescentia.—The subacid pulp of the fruit of Crescentia Cujete, the Cala- 
bash Tree, is eaten by the negroes in America, and its hard pericarp is used 
for bottles, forming floats, &e. The fruit has been lately described as a 
useful and pleasant aperient. 
Parmentiera.—The fruit of Parmentiera edulis under the name of 
Quandhscilote is eaten by the Mexicans, and that of P. cerifera is likewise 
greedily devoured by cattle in Panama. The latter resembles a candle in 
form, and hence the tree bearing it is named the Candle-tree. 
Order 7. BiGNontace*#, the Bignonia Order.—Character. 
Trees or shrubs, which are often twining or climbing, or rarely 
herbs, Leaves exstipulate, usually opposite. Inflorescence ter- 
minal. Flowers irregular. Calyx entire or divided. Corolla 
