540 SYSTEMATIC BOTANY. 



stalked, superior, 1 -celled; styles 3, clavate ; ^placentas parietal. 

 Fruit 1 -celled, stalked, generally succulent. Seeds numerous, 

 arillate ; embryo in thin fleshy albumen. 



Distribution, tf-c. — They are chiefly found in tropical America, 

 but a few also occur in North America and the East Indies, 

 and several in Africa. Examples of the Genera: — Passiflora, 

 Tacsonia. There are 214 species. 



Properties and Uses. — Many are cultivated for the beauty of 

 their flowers and foliage. Several have edible fruits, and others 

 are said to be bitter and astringent, narcotic, emmenagogue, or 

 diaphoretic. 



Paropsis edulis has an edible frnit. It is a native of Madagascar. 



Passiflora — The fruits of several species of this genus are eaten under the 

 name of GranadilLas. The root of /'. quadrangularis is said to be narcotic. 

 The flowers of P. rubra are also narcotic. Other species are reputed to be 

 anthelmintic, emmenagogue, expeftorant, emetic, carminative, &.c. 



Tacsonia.— The pulpy fruits of T. speclosa, T. mollissima, T. tripartita, and 

 others, are edible. 



Natural Order 95. Malasherbiacejk. — The Crownwort 

 Order. — Diagnosis. — This is a small order of herbaceous, or 

 somewhat shrubby plants, resembling PassifloracecB, but differ- 

 ing in never being climbers ; in the want of stipules ; in the 

 filamentous processes of that order being reduced to a short 

 membranous rim or coronet in this ; in the insertion of their 

 styles at the back instead of the apex of the ovary ; and in the 

 seeds not being arillate. 



Distribution, cfr. — They are all natives of Chili and Peru. 

 Examples of the Genera: — JVJalasherbia, Gynopleura. These are 

 the only genera, which include 5 species. 



Properties and Uses. — Altogether unknown. 



Natural Order 96. Turnerace^e.— The Turnera Order. — 

 Character. — Herbaceous or somewhat shrubby plants. Leaves 

 alternate, exstipulate, hairy. Flowers axillary. Calyx inferior, 

 5-lobed, imbricated in aestivation. Petals 5, equal, twisted in 

 jiestivation, perigynous. Stamens 5, alternate with the petals, 

 perigynous; filame^its distinct. Ovary 1-celled, superior, with 3 

 parietal placentas ; styles 3, more or less coherent at the base," 

 and undivided, forked, or branched above. Fruit capsular, 

 1-celled, 3-valved, partially dehiscing in a loculicidal manner. 

 Seeds with a caruncule on one side, and a slightly curved em- 

 bryo in the midst of fleshy albumen. 



Distrilnition, ^'c. — Natives exclusively of South America and 

 the West Indies. Examples of the Genera : — Turnera, Piriqueta. 

 These are the only genera according to Lindley; they include 

 about 60 species. 



Propei'tics and Uses. — Some are said to be astringent, others 

 tonic and expectorant, and a few aromatic. 



Natural Order 97. PAPAYACE.ii. — The Papaw Order. — 



