B24 SYSTEMATIC BOTANY. 



Indies as a substitute for Spinage. From the former species a 

 purple dye may be obtained. The fleshy roots of Ullucus 

 tuberosus or Melloca tuberosa, are used in Peru as a substitute 

 for the Potato. 



Natural Order 185. ScLERANTHACEiE. — The Scleranthus Order. 

 — Diagnosis. — This is a small order of inconspicuous herbs, 

 frequently considered as a sub-order of Paronychiacese, from 

 which its plants are distinguished by the want of stipules; by 

 being apetalous ; in the tube of the calyx becoming hardened and 

 covering the fruit, which is solitary and l-celled; and in the 

 stamens being evidently perigynous. 



Distribution, Sfc. — They are valueless weeds found in barren 

 places in the temperate regions of the globe. There are 4 

 genera, and 14 species, of which two species of Scleranthus 

 are natives of Britain. 



Natural Order 186. Phytolaccace^. — The Phytolacca 

 Order. — Herbs or undershrubs. Leaves alternate, entire, ex- 

 stipulate. Flowers perfect, racemose. Calyx 4 — 5-parted. Sta- 

 mens nearly or quite hypogynous, either equal in number to 

 the divisions of the calyx and alternate with them, or more 

 numerous ; anthers 2-celled. Ovary superior, composed of 2 

 or more carpels, distinct, or more or less combined in a 

 circle; styles and stigmas distinct, equal in number to the carpels. 

 Fruit dry or succulent, each carpel of which it is composed 

 containing 1 ascending seed; embryo curved round mealy al- 

 bumen, with the radicle next the hilum. 



Distribution, Sfc. — Natives principally of America, India, and 

 Africa. Examples: — Giesekia, Phytolacca. 



Properties and Uses. — An acrid principle is more or less 

 diffused throughout the plants of this order; this is frequently 

 destroyed by boiling in water. Some are emetic and purgative. 



Phytolacca. — The roots of P. decandra. Poke or Pocan, are emetic and pur- 

 gative. Its ripe berries have been used in chronic rheumatism and in 

 syphilitic affections. Its young shoots boiled in water are eaten in the 

 United States as Asparagus. The young shoots of P. acinosa, are also 

 similarly eaten in the Himalayas. 



Natural Order 187. Surianace^. — This name is given to 

 an order of which there is but one known species, which is 

 common on the sea-coast in the tropics. The order is supposed 

 by Dr. Wright to be allied to Phytolaccacea, which it closely 

 resembles in the structure of its ovary: but it is at once dis- 

 tinguished by the possession of petals, and by the stamens 

 being opposite to the sepals, Its uses are unknown. 



Natural Order 188. Petiveriace^. — The Pctiveria Order. 

 — Diagnosis. — This is another small order of plants Avhich is 

 placed by some botanists as a sub- order of the Phytolaccacca-, 

 with which it agrees in many particulars. It is distinguished 

 from that order by having stipulate leaves, an ovary formed of a 



