MONOCHIAMYDEJE. 625 



destroyed by boiling in water. Some are emetic and purga- 

 tive. 



Giesekia pharnaceoides. — The fresh plant of this Indian species is reputed 

 to be a powerful anthelmintic in cases of taenia. 



Phytolacca, — The roots of P. decandra, Poke or Pocan, are emetic and pur- 

 gative. The ripe beiTies have been used in chronic rheumatism and in 

 syphilitic affections. Its young shoots boiled in water are eaten in the 

 United States as Asparagus, and those of P. acinosa are also similarly eaten 

 in the Himalayas. 



Natural Order 187. Surianace^. — This name is given to 

 an order of which there is but one known species ; this is 

 common on the sea-coast in the tropics. The order is supposed 

 to be allied to Phytolaccace?e, which it closely resembles in the 

 structure of its ovary ; but it is at once distinguished by the 

 possession of petals, and by the stamens being opposite to the 

 sepals. Its uses are unknown. 



Natural Order 188. Petiveriace^. — The Petiveria Order. 

 — Diagnosis. — This is another small order of plants which is 

 placed by some botanists as a sub-order of the Phytolaccacese, 

 with which it agrees in many particulars. It is distinguished 

 from that order by having stipulate leaves, an ovary formed of a 

 single carpel, exalbuminous seeds, and a straight embryo with 

 convolute cotyledons. 



Distribution, ^-c. — The plants of this order are natives of 

 tropical America. Most of the species are acrid, and some have 

 a strong alliaceous odour. Petiveria alliacea is reputed to be 

 sudorific and emmenagogue, and its roots are used in the West 

 Indies as a remedy for toothache. 



Natural Order 189. Gyrostemone.^. — The G-yrostemon 

 Order. — Diagnosis. — This is another small order of plants, 

 natives of South-Western Australia, which is considered by some 

 botanists to be allied to Phytolaccacese. and is even sometimes 

 associated with it. It is distinguished from that order by having 

 imi sexual flowers, by the carpels being arranged round a colu- 

 mella, by having 2 suspended seeds in each carpel, and a hooked 

 embrj'O. They have no known uses. 



This order and the three preceding ones include about 80 

 species. They aU require further investigation before their 

 affinities can be well ascertained. 



Natural Order 190. Piperace.^. — The Pepper Order. — 

 Character. — Herbs or shrubs with jointed stems. Floiucrs 

 spiked, perfect, without floral envelopes, bracteated. Stamens 2 

 or more ; anthers 1 — 2-celled. Ovary simple, 1 -celled, with one 

 erect orthotropous ovule; stigma sessile. Fruit more or less 

 fleshy, 1-celled, 1-seeded. Seed erect; embryo in a distinct 

 fleshy sac at the apex of the seed, and on the outside of abimdant 

 albumen. 



Distribution, ^c. — Natives exclusively of tropical regions, 

 especially in America and the islands of the Indian Archipelago. 



