thalamifloejE. 427 



Natural Order 2. Diixexiace^. — The Dillenia Order. — 

 Character. — Trees, shrubs, or rarely herbs. Leaves usually 

 alternate, very rarely opposite, generally exstipuJate. Sepals 5, 

 persistent, in two rows. Petals 5, deciduous, hypogynous, im- 

 bricated. Stamens numerous, hypogynous. Carjnls 2—5, rarely 

 1, more or less distinct. Fruit formed of from 2 — 5 distinct 

 or adherent carpels, rarely 1. Seeds numerous, or 2 or 1 by 

 abortion, anatropal, arillate ; albumen homogeneous, fleshy : em- 

 bryo minute. 



Diagnosis. — Stipules absent, except in rare cases. Sepals 

 and petals 5 each, hj-pog^-nous, the former persistent in two 

 rows, the latter with an imbricated aestivation. Carpels more 

 or less distinct. Seeds arillate ; albumen fleshy, homogeneous. 



Distribution, ^c. — The plants of this order occur chiefly in 

 Australia, India, and equinoctial America ; a few species have 

 been also found in equinoctial Africa ; none occur in Europe. 

 Examples of the Genera: — Dillenia, Candollea, Tetracera. There 

 are above 200 species belonging to this order. 



Properties and Uses. — The plants of the order have usually 

 astringent properties, and have been used as vulneraries, and 

 for tanning in Brazil. The young calyces of some species of 

 Dillenia have an acid taste, and are employed as an ingredient 

 of curries in some parts of India. Some species of Dillenia 

 grow to a large size and form hard durable timber. There 

 are no plants belonging to the order which are applied to any 

 use in this country. 



Most of the Indian species belonging to the genus Dillenia, 

 are remarkable not only for their evergreen foliage, but also 

 fur the beauty of their flowers. They are sometimes cultivated 

 as stove or greenhouse plants in this country. 



Natural Order 3. ]\lAGNOLiACE.ii. — The Magnolia Order. — 

 Character. — Trees or shrubs, with altprnate leathery leaves 

 {fig. 310), and with usually large convolute stipules, which en- 

 close the leaf-bud and fall off as it expands. Sepals usually 

 three to six, deciduous. Petals three or more, hypogjmous, in 

 two or more rows. Stamens numerous, hypogj-nous {fig. 590, 

 e). Carpels several, one-celled, often arranged upon an elon- 

 gated thalamus {fig. 590, c). Fruit consisting of numerous, 

 dry or succulent, dehiscent {fig. 653) or indeliiscent carpels, 

 distinct or somewhat coherent. Seeds anatropal, with or without 

 an aril, solitary or several, often suspended from the fruit by a 

 long funiculus {fig. 653) ; embryo minute ; albumen fleshy, 

 homogeneous. 



Dieignosis. — Trees or shrubs. Leaves alternate. Stipules 

 usually present, and then large and sheathing the leaf-bud, 

 deciduous. Sepals and petals with a ternary arrangement of 

 their parts, hypogynous, the former deciduous, the latter with an 

 imbricated aestivation. Carpels distinct. Albi^en homogeneous. 



