CALTCIFLOR^. 555 



reputed to be febrifugal, and the root bitter, aperient, and acrid. 

 The fruit of Careya arborea is eaten, while that of Gustava 

 braziliana is emetic, and produces an intoxicating effect upon 

 fish. Generally the plants of the order should be regarded as 

 somewhat dangerous. 



Natural Order 110. Belyisiace^. — The Belvisia Order. — 

 Shrubs. Leaves alternate, exstipulate, with a leathery texture. 

 Calyx superior, coriaceous, 5-parted, with a valvate sestivation. 

 Corolla consisting of three distinct whorls of united petals. 

 Stamens 20, unequally monadelphous. Disk fleshy, and form- 

 ing a cup- shaped expansion over the ovary. Ovary 5-celled, 

 with two ovules in each cell; placentas axile; style 5-angled 

 or 5-winged; stigma pentagonal. Fruit a soft rounded beny, 

 crowned by the calyx. Seeds large, kidney- shaped, exalbu- 

 minous. 



Distribution, ^c. — Natives of tropical Africa. Examples : — 

 Asteranthos, Napoleona. These are the only genera, and they 

 include 4 species. 



Properties and Uses. — Nothing is known of their uses, except 

 that the pulp of their fruits is edible, and the pericarp contains 

 much tannin. They might be used as astringents. 



Natural Order 111. Melastomace^. — The Melastoma 

 Order. — Trees, shrubs, or herbs. Leaves opposite, and almost 

 always ribbed and dotless. Calyx 4, 5, or 6-lobed, more or 

 less adherent to the ovary, imbricated. Petals equal in number 

 to the divisions of the calyx, twisted in Eestivation. Stamens 

 equal in number, or twice as many as the petals ; filaments 

 curved downwards in aestivation ; anthers long, 2 -celled, curiously 

 beaked, usually dehiscing by two pores at the apex, or some- 

 times longitudinally, in aestivation lying in spaces between the 

 ovary and sides of the calyx. Ovary more or less adherent, 

 many-celled. Fruit either dry, distinct from the calyx, and 

 dehiscent ; or succulent, united to the calyx, and indehiscent. 

 Seeds very numerous, minute, exalbuminous. 



Distribution, ^c. — They are principally natives of tropical re- 

 gions in all parts of the world, but a few are also extra tropical, 

 being found in North America, China, Australia, and in the 

 northern provinces of India. Examples: — Siphanthera, Mela- 

 stoma, Lasiandra, Osbeckia, Rhexia, Medinilla, Sonerila, Meme- 

 cylon, !Mouriria. There are 166 genera, and about 2000 species. 



Properties and Uses. — The prevailing character of this order 

 is a slight degree of astringency. Many produce edible fruits, 

 and some are used for dyeing black and other colours. The 

 name Melastoma is derived from the fruits of the species dyeing 

 the mouth black. The leaves of Memecylon tinctorium are used 

 in some parts of India for dyeing yellow, &c. Generally speak- 

 ing, the plants possess but little interest in a medical or 

 economical point of view, but none are unwholesome. A 



