3IONOCHLAMTDE2E. 627 



with a few ascending ovules. ' Fruit either consisting of 4 

 fleshy indehiscent achrenia, or capsular and 3 — 4-celled. Seeds 

 ascending, with a minute embryo in a fleshy sac on the outside 

 of hard mealy albumen. 



Distribution, ^c. — Natives of North America, Northern India, 

 and China. Examples : — Saururus, Houttuynia. There are 4 

 genera, and 7 species. 



Properties and Uses. — They have acrid properties, and have 

 been reputed emmenagogue, but none of the plants possess any 

 particular importance as remedial agents. 



Natural Order 193. Podostemace^. — The Podostemon or 

 Eiver-weed Order. — Aquatic herbaceous plants with the aspect 

 of Mosses or Liverworts. Leaves minute, or finely divided. 

 Flowers minute, usually perfect, spathaceous, achlamydeous, 

 or with an imperfect calyx, or with 3 sepals. Stamens 1 or 

 many, hypogynous ; anthers 2-celled. Ovary superior, 2 — 3- 

 celled ; stigmas 2 — 3 ; ovules ascending, numerous. Fruit cap- 

 sular, ribbed, with parietal or axile placentation. Seeds nume- 

 rous, exalbuminous, with a straight embryo. 



Distribution, &fc. — Principally natives of South America. 

 Examples : — flydrostachys, Lacis, Podostemon, Tristichia. 

 There are 21 genera, and about 100 species. 



Properties and Uses. — Unimportant. Some species of Lacis 

 are used for food on the Rio Negro, &c., in South America, and 

 other plants of the order are eaten by cattle and fish. 



Natural Order 194. Thtjielace^. — The Mezereon Order. 

 — Shrubs or very rarely herbs. Leaves entire, exstipulate. 

 J'/owe?-* perfect (^^r. 1003), or rarely unisexual. jr- jqq^ 

 Calyx inferior (fig. 1003), coloured, tubular, 

 4 — 5-lobed ; cestivation imbricate. Stamens 

 perigynous (fig. 1003), twice as many as the 

 divisions of the calyx, or equal in number 

 to them, or fewer, in the two latter cases 

 they are opposite to the lobes of the calyx; 

 anthers 2-celled (fig. 1003), bursting longi- 

 tudinally. Ovary superior (fig. 1003), simple, 

 ] -celled (fig. 713), with a soHtary suspended 

 ovule (fig. 713). Fruit dry and nut-like, 

 or drupaceous. Seed suspended; albumem 

 none, or but small in quantity ; embryo 

 straight, with a superior radicle. ^^ ^^^3 ^^^^.^^^ 



Distribution, §-c. — They are found more or section of the flower 

 less abundantly in all parts of the world, but ^aphne^^'^^^^ °^ 

 especially in Australia and the Cape of Good 

 Hope. Examples: — Dirca, Daphne, Pimelea, Lagetta, Her- 

 nandia. There are 43 genera, and about 300 species. 



Properties and Uses. — The plants of this order are chiefly- 

 remarkable for the toughness and acridity of their bark. The 

 s s 2 



