656 SYSTEMATIC BOTANY. 



ing iu strensrtli and durability. A peculiar alkaloid resembling quiuia in 

 its properties, called salicine, has been obtained from the bark, leaves, or 

 flowers, of about twenty species of Salix. The barks of S. Russelliana, S. 

 alba, S. Caprea, S. frayilis, S. pentandra, and S. purpurea, yield most 

 salicine. 



The three succeeding orders, namely, the Balanophoraceae, 

 Cytinacese, and Kafflesiacese, have been commonly put by bota- 

 nists in a class by themselves, which has been placed between 

 the Cryptogamia and Phanerogamia, and to which the name of 

 Khizogens or Rhizanthege has been usually given. The special 

 characteristics of the plants of this class are said to be their 

 acotyledonous embryo, fungoid texture, and peculiar parasitic 

 habit : but as one or more of such characters also occur in several 

 orders of Dicotyledones, there does not appear to be any suffi- 

 ciently valid reasons for separating them from this class of 

 plants. By Dr. Hooker, the Balanophoracese have been most 

 intimately examined, and he has arrived at the opinion that they 

 are allied to the Haloragacefe ; and other botanists regard the Raf- 

 flesiacese as related to the Aristolochiaceae. We place these orders 

 here, not because we believe them to have any especial relation 

 to the orders just treated of, but simply that, as their position in 

 the Natural System has not been distinctly defined, they may be 

 well described at the end of the Angiospermous Dicotyledons, 

 to which division of the vegetable kingdom they evidently belong. 



Natural Order 235. Balanophorace^. — The Balanophora 

 Order. — Character. — Leafless root-parasites; with amorphous 

 fungoid stems, of various colours, but never green ; and under- 

 ground more or less fleshy tubers or rhizomes. Peduncles naked 

 or scaly, bearing spikes of flowers, which are commonly imi- 

 sexual, bracteated, and of a white colour. Male flowers very 

 evident, each with a tubular calyx, which is either entire or 

 3 — 5-lobed. Stamens usually 3 — 5, sometimes 1, more or less 

 united or distinct. Female flowers minute, with a tubular supe- 

 rior calyx, Ivnb wanting, or present and bilabiate. Ovary in- 

 ferior, usually 1 -celled; styles 2; ovule solitary, pendulous. 

 Fridt small, more or less compressed. Seed solitary, albuminous, 

 with a lateral undivided or amorphous embryo. 



Distribution, cfr. — These plants are found parasitic on the roots 

 (of various Dicotyledonous plants, especially in the tropical and 

 ;sub-tropical mountains of Asia and South America. Other 

 species are found in different parts of Africa, Australia, &c. 

 Examples of the genera : — Cynomorium, Langsdorffia, Bala- 

 nophora. There are, according to Dr. Hooker, 37 species. 



Properties and Uses. — Many are remarkable for their astrin- 

 gent properties ; others are edible, as Omh'ophytiim, a native of 

 Peru, and Lopliophytum of Bolivia. Others, again, secrete a 

 kind of wax. 



Balanophora.— In the mountainous districts of Java the natives make 

 candles from a species of Balanophora, as follows :— The parasite is heated 



