THALAMFLOR^. 499 



amples : — Ixerba, Brexia, Argophyllum, Roussea. There are 4 

 genera, and 6 species, according to Lindley. 



Properties and Uses. — Altogether unknown. 



Natural Order 55. Olacace^e. — The Olax Order. — General 

 Character. — Trees or shrubs. Leaves alternate, exstipulate, 

 simple, entire, coriaceous. Flowers small, generally fragrant. 

 Calyx smaE, monosepalous ; limb either obsolete, or existing in 

 the form of little teeth, persistent, often becoming finally en- 

 larged ; (Estivation imbricated. Petals 5 or 6, hypogynous, 

 valvate in aestivation, distinct, or adhering in pairs by means of 

 the stamens, frequently hairy on their inside. Stamens hypo- 

 gynous, 5 — 1 0, tisually in part sterile, the fertile stamens varying 

 in number from 3 — 10, of which 5 or fewer are opposite to the 

 petals; the sterile stamens are generally alternate to them, and 

 appendiciform ; inserted upon, or outside of a conspicuous disk ; 

 anthers 2-lobed, with longitudinal dehiscence. Ovary seated 

 within the disk, unilocular at the summit, and imperfectly 

 2 — 5-celled at the base ; ovules 2, 3, or 1, pendulous, attached 

 to a free central placenta ; style simple ; stigma clavate, or 

 2 — 5-lobed. Fruit indehiscent, frequently surrounded by the 

 enlarged calyx, 1 -celled, 1 -seeded. Seed pendulous, solitary, 

 without integuments ; embryo minute, at the base of abundant 

 fleshy albumen ; radicle near the hilum. 



Diagnosis. — Trees or shrubs, with alternate, simple, entire 

 leaves, without stipules. Flowers small, regular, axillary. 

 Calyx minute, monosepalous, generally enlarging so as to cover 

 the fruit. Petals hypogynous, valvate in aestivation. Stamens 

 definite, partly sterile, and partly fertile ; the latter opposite to 

 the petals, inserted upon, or outside of a conspicuous disk ; 

 anthers 2-celled, bursting longitudinally. Ovary free, often 

 imbedded in the disk ; ovules pendulous from a free central 

 placenta. Fruit drupaceous. Seed without integuments, 

 sohtary, pendulous ; embryo minute ; albumen fleshy. 



Distribution, Sfc. — Natives of tropical or of sub-tropical re- 

 gions. Examples : — Opilia, Olax, liriosma, Heisteria, Ximenia, 

 Cathedra. According to Miers, there are 23 genera; the number 

 of species is doubtful. 



Properties and Uses. — Unimportant. Some have fragrant 

 flowers. The fruit of Ximenia americana is eaten in Senegal. 

 The leaves of Olax zeylanica are used in salads, and the wood 

 in putrid fevers. The wood of Heisteria coccinea is considered 

 by some, to furnish the Partridge-wood of cabinet-makers, but 

 Lindley says, that this is certainly a mistake. 



Natural Order 56. Icacinace^. — The Icacina Order. — 

 Diagnosis. — This is an order of plants consisting of evergreen 

 trees and shrubs, and formerly included in the order Olacaceae ; 

 but, as shown by Miers, they are clearly distinguished from 

 that order. " They differ most essentially in the calyx being 

 K K 2 



