COEOLLIFLOE.^. 691 



devoid of poisonous properties. It is freqiiently erroneously called copalchi 

 bark (see Cvoton for the origin of this bark;. The dried ripe seeds of S. pota- 

 torum are devoid of poisonous properties. They are employed by the Hin- 

 doos to clear muddy water, hence the name of Clearing-nuts which is com- 

 monly appUed to them. Their efficacy is due to the presence of albumen 

 and casein, which act as fining agents in a similar manner to analogous 

 agents employed for beer and wine. These seeds are also reputed to be 

 emetic. The pulp of the fruit of ^. potatorum is eatable, as is also that of <S. 

 Pseudo-Quinu ; and according to Roxburgh, that of S. Nux-Vomka, this is 

 greedily eaten by birds. Some of the above species of Strychnos, as S. cogens, 

 S. tigustrina, and others, are imperfectly defined. (See also Ignatia.) 



Natural Orders 146 and 147. Diapexsiace.^, and SxiLBACEiE. 

 — These are two small orders of shrubby plants which are placed 

 by Lindley in his Gentianal alliance, and regarded by him as 

 nearly allied to LoganiacecB. The DiapensiaacB (of which there 

 are but 2 genera, and 2 species, the uses of which are unknown) 

 are nati^-es of North America and Northern Europe ; and the 

 StilbacecB (of which there are 3 genera, and 7 species, without 

 any known uses) are natives of the Cape of Good Hope. 



Natural Order 148. Gentiaxace,ie. — The Gentian Order. — 

 Character. — Herbs, or rarely shrubs, usually smooth. Leaves 

 {Jig. 419) generally simple, entire, opposite, sessile, and strongly 

 ribbed ; rarely alternate, or stalked, or compound ; always exsti- 

 pulate. Flowers (Jig. 419) almost always regular, variously 

 coloured, axillary or terminal. Ca///.r inferior, persistent, usually 

 with 5 divisions, or occasionally with 4, 6, 8, or 10. Corolla per- 

 sistent, its divisions ccwrresponding in number to those of the 

 calyx; cest Ivat ion imbncate; twisted, or induplicate. Sta/uens a.s 

 many as the segments of the corolla, and alternate to them. Ovary 

 1 -celled, or rarely partially 2-celled fi'om the projection inwards 

 of the placentas, with numerous ovules; placentas 2, parietal 

 {Jig. 666), anterior and posterior to the axis, and frequently 

 turned inwards ; style 1 ; stigmas 2, right and left of the axis. 

 Fruit capsular {Jig. 666), 2-valved, with septicidal dehiscence; 

 or a berry. Seeds numerous {Jig. 666), small ; embryo minute, 

 in the axis of fleshy albumen. 



Diagnosis. — Usually smooth herbs. Leaves without stipules. 

 Flowers nearly always regular. Calyx and corolla persistent, 

 with an equal number of lobes. Stamens alternate to the lobes 

 of the corolla, and equal in number to them. Ovary 1 -celled, 

 with 2 parietal placentas placed anterior and posterior, some- 

 times meeting in the centre and forming a 2-celled ovary ; 

 style 1 ; stigmas 2. Seeds small, numerous, with a minute em- 

 bryo in the axis of fleshy albumen. 



Division of the Order, and Exanrples of the Genera. — The order 

 has been divided into two sub-orders, the characters of which 

 are taken from the sestivation of the corolla : — 



Sub-order 1. Gentianeas. — Corolla imbricate-twisted. Exam- 

 ples: — Gentiana, Chlora. 



