Sabiacea.] flora jndica. 207 



lares, extrorsaj vel introrsae, longitudinaliter dehiscentes, valvis a con- 

 nective solutis, quapropter antherse post dehiscentiam uniloculares fiunt. 

 Discus hypogynus column® brevi insidens, 5-lobus, lobis carnosis cum 

 petalis sepalisque alternantibus. Ovaria 2, rarissime 3, in axi subeo- 

 hserentia, biovulata ; ovula suturse ventrali inserta, superposita, inferius 

 descendens, campylotropum, superius fere horizontal^ suborthotropum. 

 Styli 2, erecti, terminates, cylindrici, secus faciem ventralem subco- 

 hserentes, sed facile separabiles. Stigmata simplicia, obtusiuscula. 

 Carpella 2 vel abortu solitaria, drupacea, dorso gibbosa, intus stylo 

 subpersistente fere basilari rostrata. JEndocarphtm lignosmn, irregn- 

 lariter rugosnm. Semen solitarium, reniforme, prope basin insertum, 

 campylotropum. Testa coriacea, punctis coloratis notata. Endopleura 

 crassiuscula, alba. Embryo exalbuminosus, radicula infera horizontali 

 cylindrica, cotyledonibus ovalibus incurvis planiusculis carnosis. — 

 Frutices scandentes foliosi, ramulis basi squamu gemmce persistentibtis 

 stipatis, foliis alternis integerrimis exstipulatu, cum petiolo hand articu- 

 latis, floribus axillaribus, solitariis cymosis vel paniculatis, mediocribus 

 vel parvis, viridibus Jlavis vel purpureis, plerumque cum folds nascentibm 

 evolutis. i 



The genus Sabia was first described by Colebrooke* in the year 1820, with a 

 somewhat erroneous generic character, and a plate which accurately represents the 

 habit and general appearance of the plant, but is accompanied by a very imperfect 

 figure of the flower. In 1 824, Wallichf published excellent descriptions oi two ad- 

 ditional species, giving at the same time a corrected generic character, and referring 

 the genus to Terebinthacea. In 1825, Blume,J unaware of what had previously 

 been done, added another species under the generic name Menisco&ta, which he 

 placed at the end of Menispermacea. Endlicher and Meisner, adopting "Wallich's 

 suggestion, placed Sabia at the end of Anacardiacece. In 1842, Falconer§ published 

 an excellent account of the genus, under the name of Enantia, which he indicated as 

 the type of a distinct Order, pointing out the resemblance of the fruit to Menisper- 

 niacea, but not pronouncing definitely on its affinities. In 1851, Blume,)) who had 

 discovered the identity of his genus Meniscosta with Sabia, coustituted the Natural 

 Order Sabiacer, the place of which he fixed in the immediate vicinity of Menisper- 

 macea; and in 1853 Miersf adopted that Natural Order, taking the same view of 

 its affinities. He has, however, fallen into an error in describing the ovules as soli- 

 tary, and has overlooked the remarkable character of the opposition of the petals and 

 sepals. 



The structure of the genus Sabia is so remarkable, that its claims to form a dis- 

 tinct Order are unquestionable ; but, as in the case of many Orders of limited extent, 

 the characters point in so many different directions that it is not easy to determine 

 the position which it ought to occupy in our systems. If the ovary of Sabiacece be 

 considered syncarpous, the presence of a well-marked hypogynous disc, and many 

 other characters, would seem to indicate the Rhamnal alliance as that to which they 

 are most nearly allied. Among its Orders, Chaill etiacea: , which have a two-celled 

 ovary, containing two collateral pendulous ovules in each cell, a simple style, and 

 exalbuminous seeds, appear to exhibit the greatest amount of resemblance to Sabiacea. 

 There are, however, many obvious differences, such as the structure of the petals, the 

 drupaceous fruit, and the curved embryo with inferior radicle, and thi3 affinity is 

 probably a distant one. 



* Liun.Tr. xii. 355. § fa Hook. Journ. Bot, iv. 75. 



t Roxl). Fl. lnd. ed. Wall. ii. 308. II Mus. Lugd. Bat. i. 368. t. 44. 



X Bijdr. p 28 1 Lindiey's Veg. Kiugd. 3rd ed. p. 467- 



