THALAMIFLOR^. 



481 



Petals equal-sided, and inserted with the numerous stamens into 

 a hypogynous disk. Styles very short. Seed solitary, exal- 

 buminous, Avith a very large radicle, and two small cotyledons. 



Distribution, ^c. — The order contains but 2 genera, including 

 8 species, all of which are large trees, natives of the forests in 

 the hottest parts of South America. Examples : — Caryocar, 

 Anthodiscus. 



Properties and Uses. — Some of the trees are valuable for 

 their timber. Others yield edible nuts, and some an excellent 

 oil. The most important plant is the 



Caryocar butyrosum (Pekea tuberculosa or butyrosa); this is much esteemed 

 for its timber, which is used iu ship-buildingand for other purposes. The sepa- 

 rated portions of the fruit constitute the Souari, Surah wa, or Suwarrow-nuts of 

 commerce, the kernels of which are probably the most agreeable of all the nut 

 kind. Thev are occasionally imported into this country. An excellent oil (it 

 is said, not inferior to Olive), may be also extracted from them. 



Natural Order 40. Sapindace^. — The Soapwort Order. 

 — General Character (^ys. 888— 890).— Usually large trees 

 or twining shrubs, or rarely climbing herbs. Leaves generally 



Fig. 888. Fig. 889. Fig. 890. 



Fig. 888. Diagram of the flower of the Horse-chestnut (.^sculus Hippocastanum'\. 



Fig. 889. Vertical section of the flower of the Horse-chestnut Fig. 890. 



Vertical section of the seed of the Horse-chestnut. 



compound C^ig. 345), rarely simple, alternate or sometimes 

 opposite, often dotted, stipulate or exstipulate. Flowers (Figs. 

 888 and 889), mostly perfect and unsymmetrical, sometimes 

 polygamous. Sepals 4 — 5, {Fig. 888), either distinct, or coherent 

 at base, imbricated. Petals 4 — 5, rarely 0, hypogynous, alternate 

 with the sepals, imbricated, {Fig. 888 ), naked, or furnished with 

 an appendage on the inside. Stamens 8—10, Ysn:e\y 5 — 6 — 7 

 (Fig. 888), or very rarely 20, inserted into the disk, or into the 

 thalamus ; filaments distinct or shghtly monadelphous ; anthers 

 introrse, bursting longitudinally. Disk fleshy or glandular. 

 Ovary usually 3-celled {Fig. 888), rarely 2 or 4-celled, each cell 

 containing 1, 2 (Fig. 714), 3, or rarely more ovules ; style un- 

 divided, or 2 — 3 cleft. JFruit either fleshy and indehiscent ; 

 1 1 



