496 SYSTEMATIC BOTANY. 



juice. — Leaves simple, stipulate, alternate. Pedicels jointed in 

 the middle. Sepals 5, persistent, imbricate. Petals hypogynous, 

 definite, sometimes twice as many as the sepals, deciduous, 

 imbricate. Stamens equal in number to the sepals and opposite 

 to them, or twice as many, or more numerous ; filaments per- 

 sistent and inserted on a hypogynous disk; anthers 2-celled, 

 with longitudinal or porous dehiscence. Carpels corresponding 

 in number to the petals, inserted on a large fleshy disk, which 

 becomes larger as the carpels grow ; ovules 1 in each carpel, 

 erect or pendulous. Fruit consisting of several indehiscent, 

 somewhat drupaceous, 1 -seeded carpels. Seed exalbuminous, or 

 nearly so ; embryo straight ; radicle towards the hilum. 



Diagnosis. — Undershrubs or smooth trees, with alternate 

 simple stipulate leaves. Flowers hypogynous, perfect, regular, 

 and symmetrical, with the pedicels articulated in the middle. 

 Calyx and corolla with usually a quinary distribution, imbricate ; 

 the former persistent, the latter deciduous. Stamens hypo- 

 gynous, 5, 10, or numerous ; anthers 2-celled, with longitudinal 

 or porous dehiscence. Style simple, with minute stigmas. Fruit 

 consisting of a number of 1-seeded indehiscent succulent carpels, 

 inserted on an enlarged fleshy disk. Seed with very little or 

 no albumen; embryo straight, with the radicle towards the 

 hilum. 



Distribution, ^-c. — Natives chiefly of the tropical parts of 

 India, Africa, and America. Examples of the Genera: — 

 Gomphia, Ochna. There are 82 species. 



Properties and Uses. — The plants are generally remarkable 

 for their bitterness. Some have been used as tonics and 

 astringents. Some, as Gomphia parviflora, yield oil, which is 

 used in Brazil for salads. In their properties generally, the 

 Ochnacese much resemble the Simarubacese. 



Natural Order 62. Coriariaceje, — The Coriaria Order. — 

 Diagnosis. — This name is given to an order which includes 

 but 1 genus, and 8 species ; its affinities are by no means 

 understood. It appears to be most nearly related to Ochnaceae, 

 with which it agrees in having its carpels distinct, and placed on 

 an enlarged disk : but it is distinguished from that order by 

 its opposite leaves ; sometimes polygamous flowers ; persistent 

 fleshy petals ; absence of style ; and long linear distinct 

 stigmas. 



Distribution, ^x. — Natives of the South of Europe, Chili, 

 Peru, New Zealand, and Nepaul. Example : — Coriaria. This 

 is the only genus ; it contains 8 species. 



Properties and Uses. — The plants of this order are generally 

 suspicious, as they have sometimes produced poisonous effects. 

 The fruits of some, however, are edible, as Coriaria nepalensis, 

 a native of the north of India, and those of C. sarmentosa, a na- 

 tive of New Zealand ; in the latter case the pericarp is alone 



