654 SYSTEMATIC BOTANY. 



Balanophoraceee have been most intimately examined, and he 

 has arrived at the opinion that they are allied to the Halora^acea;. 

 We place them here, not because we believe them to have any 

 especial relation to the orders just treated of, but simply, as 

 their position in the Natural System has not been distinctly 

 defined, they may be well treated of at the end of the Angio- 

 spermous Dicotyledons, to which division of the vegetable 

 kingdom they evidently belong. 



Natural Order 235. Balanophorace^. — The Balanophora 

 Order. — Leafless root-parasites ; with amorphous fungoid 

 stems, of various colours, but never green ; and underground, 

 more or less fleshy tubers or rhizomes. Peduncles naked or 

 scaly, bearing spikes of flowers, which are commonly unisexual, 

 bracteated, and of a white colour. Male flowers very evident, 

 each with a tubular calyx, whit;h is either entire, or 3 — 5-lobed. 

 Stamens usually 3—5, sometimes I, more or less united or dis- 

 tinct. Female floivers minute, with a tubular superior calyx, 

 /<m6 wanting, or bilabiate. Ovary inferior, usually I -celled; styles 

 2 ; ovule solitary, pendulous. Fruit small, more or less compressed. 

 Seed solitary, albuminous, with a lateral undivided or amorphous 

 embryo. 



Distribution, 8fc. — These plants are found parasitic on the roots 

 of various Dicotyledonous plants, especially in the tropical and 

 sub-tropical mountains of Asia and South America. Other 

 species are found in different parts of Africa, Australia, &c. 

 Examples : — • Mystropetalon, Cynomorium, Langsdorffia, Bala- 

 nophora, Helosis. There are, according to Dr. Hooker, 14 

 genera, and 37 species. 



Properties and Uses. — Many are remarkable for their astrin- 

 gent properties ; others are edible, as Ombrophytum in Peru, and 

 Lophophytum in Bolivia. Others again, secrete a kind of wax. 



Cynomorium coccineuyn is the Fungus melitensis of pharmacologists. It 

 has had a great reputation a-; a styptic. 



Langsdorffia hypogcea. — Dr. Hooker says " that this species yields so large 

 a quantity ot wax, that catnlles are made of it in Sew Granada." The steins 

 are also said to he collected n^ar BDROta, " and sold under the name of Sirjos, 

 and used as candles on saints' days." 



Natural Order 236. CvtinacezE. — The Cistus-rape Order. 

 — Root parasites with a fungoid texture. Flowers perfect 

 or unisexual, and either solitary and sessile, or clustered at 

 the top of a scaly stem. Calyx 3 — 6-parted. Anthers sessile, 

 opening longitudinally. Ovary 1- celled, inferior ; ovules very 

 numerous ; placentas parietal. Fruit l-ccllcd, with numerous 

 seeds imbedded in pulp. Seeds with or without albumen ; embryo 

 amorphous. 



Distribution, Sfc. — Parasitic on the roots of Cistus, upon 

 flesliy Kuphorbiaccne, and upon other succulent plants. They 

 occur in the south of Europe and Africa. Examples : — 

 Cytinus, llydnora. There are 4 genera, and 7 species. 



