CA.LYCIFLOK^. 519 



Natural Order 74. VocHTSiACEiE. — The Vochysia Order. — 

 Trees or shrubs, with entire, usually opposite leaves, which are 

 furnished at the base with glands or stipules. Floivers, very 

 irregular, and unsynimetrieal. Sepals 4 — 5, coherent at the 

 base, very unequal, the upper one spurred, imbricated in 

 aestivation. Petals 1, 2, 3, or 5, unequal, inserted upon the 

 calyx, imbricated in sestivation. Stamens 1 to 5, usually op- 

 posite the petals, or rarely alternate, arising from the bottom of 

 the calyx, most of them sterile. Ovary superior, or partially 

 inferior, .3-celled. or rarely 1- celled; placentas axil-; style and 

 stigma 1. Fruit usually capsular, 3-cornered, 3-celled, with locu- 

 licidal dehiscence, rarely indehiscent and 1 -celled. S^eds usually 

 winged, without albumen, erect. 



This order is generally placed near Comhretacece, but it is 

 readily distinguished from it, by its superior or nearly superior 

 ovary, for which reason we place it near Stapliyleacece. Lindley 

 considers it most nearly allied to the Viulacece and the Polyga- 

 lacece. 



Distribution, 8fc — Natives of equinoctial America. Ex- 

 amples : — Qualea, Vochysia, Salvertia. According to Lindley, 

 there are 8 genera, and 51 species. 



Properties and Uses. — Generally unimportant, although some 

 are said to form useful timber.. 



Natural Order 75. Rhamnace^. — The Buckthorn Order. — 

 General Character. — Shrubs or small trees, which are often 

 spiny. Leaves simple, alternate, or rarely opposite ; stipules small, 

 or wanting. Flowers small, usually perfect (Jig. 771), sometimes 

 unisexual. Calyx 4 — 5-cleft, with a valvate sestivation (fig. 

 771). Petals equal in number to the divisions of the calyx 

 (fig. 771), and inserted into its throat, cucullate or convolute, 

 sometimes wanting. Stamens equal in number to the petals 

 (fig. 771), and opposite to them when present, and alternate to 

 the divisions of the calyx. Disk fleshy. Ovary (fig. 771) 

 superior or half superior, immersed in the disk, 2, 3, or 4- 

 celled; ovules solitary. Fruit dry and capsular, or fleshy and 

 indehiscent. Seeds one in each cell, erect, usually with fleshy 

 albumen, but this is sometimes wanting, exarillate; embryo long, 

 with a short inferior radicle, and large flat cotyledons. 



Diagnosis. Small trees or shrubs, with simple leaves, and 

 small, regular, usually perfect flowers ; rarely unisexual. Calyx 

 4 — 5, parted, valvate. Petals and stamens distinct, perigy- 

 nous, and equal in number to the divisions of the calyx; the 

 petals sometimes wanting; the stamens alternate with the divi- 

 sions of the calyx, and opposite the petals when these are pre- 

 sent. Ovary more or less superior, surrounded by a fleshy disk. 

 Fruit dehiscent or indehiscent, 2, 3, or 4-celled, with one erect 

 seed in each cell. Seed usually albuminous, without an aril. 



Distribution, Sfc. — Generally distributed over the globe except 



L L 4 



