510 SYSTEMATIC BOTANr. 



the shrubby species are, however, confined to the former. They 

 are most abundant at the Cape of Good Hope, and in tropical 

 America. Examples : — Oxalis, Averrhoa, Ledocarpum, Hugonia. 

 There are 9 genera, and about 328 species enumerated by 

 Lindley as belonging to the order. 



Properties and Uses. — Chiefly remarkable for their acid 

 juice, which is due to the presence of binoxalate of potash. 

 They generally possess refrigerant properties. The fruits of 

 some are eaten by the natives in certain parts of the East 

 Indies, but they are too acid to be acceptable to Europeans, 

 who, however, use them as pickles. Some are remarkable for 

 their sensitive leaves, and others have phyllodes. 



Oxalis acetosella. Common Wood-Sorrel — This plant is a common indi- 

 genous plant, abounding in woods. It has ternate leaves, and is considered 

 by many to be the true Shamrock, as its leaves open about St. Patrick's Day. 

 When infused in milk, or water, it forms a pleasant refrigerant drmk in fevers. 

 The leaves, taken as a salad, are antiscorbutic. 0. crenatn, a plant which is 

 called Arracacha, together with others, as 0. Deppet, 0. esculefitn, &c. have 

 edible tubers, which are used as substitutes tor potatoes in some districts. 0. 

 anthelminlica, the Mitchamitcho of Abyssinia, has very acrid tubers. These 

 are much employed for their anthelmintic properties in that country, being 

 frequently prelerred to Kousso (Brayera anthelmintica), a plant belonging to 

 the Rosacea?, and which is also largely used in Abyssinia for a similar purpose. 

 (See Brayera anthehnintica). 



Averrhon BilimbiAwd Carambola yield acid fruits, known respectively under 

 the names of Blimbing and Carambole. They are eaten by the natives of the 

 East Indies, but are too acidulous for Europeans, who nevertheless used them 

 for pickles. 



Natural Order 67. Balsaminace^e. — The Balsam Order. — 

 General Character. — Herbaceous plants with succulent stems 

 and a watery juice. Leaves alternate or opposite, simple, ex- 

 stipulate. Flowers hypogynous, very irregular. Sepals 3 — 5, 

 very irregular, deciduous, with an imbricated sestivation, the odd 

 one spurred (Jig. 11'J). Petals usually 4, 1 being abortive, distinct 

 or irregularly coherent, deciduous, alternate 

 Fig. 907. vf'xXh the sepals ; (Estivation convolute. 



Stamens 5, alternate with the petals, and 

 somewhat united. Ovary composed of 5 

 carpels, united so as to form a .5-celled com- 

 pound body ; style simple ; stigma more or 

 less divided into 5 lobes. Fruit usually 

 capsular, 5-celled, and dehiscing in a 

 septifragal manner by 5 elastic valves, 

 which become coiled up {fig. 907) ; pla- 

 centas axile; sometimes succulent and in- 

 dehiscent. Seeds solitary or numerous, sus- 

 pended, exalbuminous ; embryo straight. 

 Diagnosis. — Succulent herbaceous plants, 

 Fiff. 807. Capsule of with simple cxstii)ulatc leaves. Stems con- 

 Touch-me-not. dm- ^. 1 , ^' .• 1 . , ^ .1 • • ^ 

 ptttuns Tioii-ync-tuu- tinuous and not articulated at the jomts. 

 gerc) with recurved Flowcrs liypogyuous, vcrv irrcgular. Sepals 

 coiled-up valvc«. _ . ^ -^ ' ^^ ., ' , -, . ^ , , , 

 3 — 6 ; petals usually 4 ; both irregular and de- 



