512 SYSTEMATIC BOTANY. 



with them on a large disk. Ovary superior, composed of 2 {fig. 

 769) or 3 carpels, which are more or less distinct; ovicles nume- 

 rous ; styles 2 or 3, coherent at the base. Fruit fleshy or 

 membranous. Seeds ascending, with a bony testa; albumen 

 little or none. 



Distribution, tf-<?. — They are scattered irregularly over the 

 globe. Exam'plcs of the Genera : — Euscaphis, Staphylea. There 

 are 14 species. 



Properties and Uses. — The bark of some species is bitter and 

 astringent, as that of Etcscapkis staphyleoides. Others have oily 

 and somewhat purgative seeds, as Staphylea pinnata, &e. 



Natural Order 74. Vochysiace^. — The Vochysia Order. — 

 Character. — Trees or shrubs, with entire, usually opposite 

 leaves, which are furnished at the base with glands or stipules. 

 Flowers very irregular, and unsymmetrical. Sepals 4 — 5, co- 

 herent at the base, very iinequal, the upper one spurred, imbricated 

 in aestivation. Petals 1, 2, 3, or 5, unequal, inserted upon the 

 calyx, imbricated in aestivation. Stamens 1 to 5, usually op- 

 posite the petals, or rarely alternate, arising from the bottom of 

 the calyx, most of them sterile. Ovary superior, or partially 

 inferior, 3-celled, or rarely 1-celled; place7itas a,x\\e ; style and 

 stigma 1. Fruit usually capsular, 3-cornered, 3-celled, with 

 loculicidal dehiscence, rarely inclehiscent and 1-celled. Seeds 

 usually winged, without albumen, erect. 



This order is generally placed near Combretacecs, but it is 

 readily distinguished from it by its superior or nearly superior 

 ovary, for which reason we place it near StaphyleacecB. Lindley 

 considers it most nearly allied to the ViolacecB and the Polyga- 

 lacecB. 



Distribution, ^'c. — Natives of equinoctial America. Ex- 

 amp'ks of the Genera: — Vochysia, Salvertia. There are about 

 50 species. 



Properties and Uses. — G-enerally unimportant, although some 

 are said to form useful timber. 



Natural Order 75. Khamnacejk. — The Buckthorn Order. — 

 Character. — Sh'ubs or sniall trees, which are often spiny. 

 Leaves simple, alternate, or rarely opposite; stiptules small, or 

 wanting. Flowers small, usually perfect {fig. 774), sometimes 

 unisexual. Calyx 4 — o-cleft, with a valvate aestivation {fig. 

 774). Petals equal in number to the divisions of the calyx 

 {fig. 774), and inserted into its throat, cucullate or convolute, 

 sometimes wanting. Stamens equal in number to the petals 

 {fig. 774), and opposite to them when present, and alternate to 

 the divisions of the calyx. Disk fleshy. Ovary {fig. 774) 

 superior or half superior, immersed in the disk, 2, 3, or 4- 

 celled ; ovidcs solitary. Fruit dry and capsular, or fleshy and 

 indehiscent. Seeds one in each cell, erect, usually with fleshy 

 albumen, but this is sometimes wanting, exarillate ; embryo long, 

 with a short inferior radicle, and large flat cotyledons. 



