492 SYSTEMATIC BOTANY. 



Examples of the Genera: — Olax, Liriosma, Heisteria. The num- 

 ber of species is doubtful. 



Properties and Uses. — Unimportant. Some have fragrant 

 flowers. The fruit of Ximenia americana is eaten in Senegal. 

 The leaves of Olax zcylanxca are used by the Cingalese in their 

 curries, &c., and the wood in putrid fevers. The wood of Heis- 

 teria coccinea is considered by some, to furnish the Partridge- 

 wood of cabinet-makers. (See Gueitarda.) 



Natural Order 56. Icacinacb.^. — The Icacina Order. — 

 Diagnosis.— This is an order of plants consisting of evergreen 

 trees and shrubs, and formerly included in the order Olacacese ; 

 but, as shown by Miers, they are clearly distinguished from that 

 order. '' They differ most essentially in the calyx being always 

 small, persistent and unchanged, and never increasing with 

 the growth of the fruit ; the stamens being always alternate with 

 the petals, not opposite ; the petals and stamens are never fixed 

 on the margin of the conspicuous cup-shaped disk; the ovary 

 is normally plurilocular with axile placentation, and when 

 unilocular, this happens only from the abortion of the other 

 cells, the traces of which are always discernible, never completely 

 unilocular at the summit, and plurilocular at base, with free 

 central placentation. In Icacinacese the ovules are suspended 

 below the summit of the cell in pairs superimposed by cup-shaped 

 podosperms ; only one of these becomes perfected, and the seed 

 is furnished with the usual integuments." 



Distribution, i^-c. — " They are natives of tropical or sub- 

 tropical countries; chiefly the East Indies, Africa, and South 

 America, a single species being found each in New Holland, 

 Norfolk Island, and New Zealand." Examples of the Genera : — 

 Icacina, Mappia, Sarcostigma. There are 70 species. 



Properties and Uses. —Unknown. 



Natural Order 57. CvRLLLACEiE. — The Cyrilla Order. — 

 Diagnosis. — Evergreen shrubs, with alternate exstipulate leaves, 

 nearly related to Olacacea, but chiefly distinguished by their 

 imbricate petals, which are altogether free from any hairiness on 

 their inside ; and by the stamens being all fertile, and, if equal 

 in number to the petals, alternate with them. 



Distributioyi, <|c. — They are all natives of North or Tropical 

 America. Examples of the Genera: — Cyrilla, Mylocaryum. — 

 There are 6 species. 



Properties and Uses. — Unknown. 



Natural Order 58. Humiriace^. — The Humirium Order. 

 — Diagnosis. — Trees or shrubs with a balsamic juice. Leaves 

 alternate, simple, coriaceous, exstipulate. Calyx 5-parted, imbri- 

 cated. Petals 0, imbricated. Stamens hypogynous, 20 or more, 

 monadelphous ; anthers 2-celled; connective elongated beyond 

 the anther-lobes. Ovary superior, usually surrounded by a disk, 

 5-celled; ovules 1 or 2 in each cell, suspended; style simple; 



