240 



MANUAL OF BOTANY 



Fig. 999. Fm. 1000. 



Genera : — Cytinus, Linn. ; Hvdiiora, Thunb. There are about 

 7 species. 



Projyerties cmd Uses. — Some have astringent properties, as 

 Cytitius Hypocistis. A kind of extract is made from this 

 plant in the South of Europe, and used, under the name of 

 Succus HyiJocistidis, in diarrhoea, and for arresting haemor- 

 rhage, — Hydnora africana has a putrid-animal odour, but when 

 roasted it is eaten by the native Africans at the Cape of Good 

 Hope. 



Order 12. Kafflesiace^, the EafHesia Order. - Charac- 

 ter. — Root-])arasites, devoid of chloro- 

 phyll, without evident stems or leaves, 

 and with a fungoid texture. These plants 

 consist essentially of flowers sessile upon 

 the branches of trees, and surrounded by 

 scaly bracts. The floivers are herma- 

 phrodite, or unisexual and dicecious. 

 Calyx 5-partite, tubular ; the throat sur- 

 rounded by a number of thickened scaly 

 processes, which are either distinct from 

 each other or united into a ring. Anthers 

 placed upon a column which adheres to 

 the calyx, 2-celled ; and either distinct, 

 and each opening by a pore, or united 

 into a many-celled body, and opening by 

 a common pore. Ovary 1-celled, inferior ; 

 ovules very numerous ; _2J?ac6'7zfas parietal. 

 Fruit indehiscent. Seeds very numerous, 

 with or without albumen ; embryo amor- 

 phous or dicotyledonous. This order, as 

 mentioned above, is sometimes included 

 in Cytinacece. 



Distribution and Numbers. — Parasitic 

 upon the stems of Cissiin the East Indies, 

 and on Leguminous plants in South 

 America. Illustrative Gene ra : — Rafflesia, B. Br. ; Brugmansia, 

 Blum. There are about 16 species. 



Proioerties and Uses. — Some have styptic and astringent 

 properties. They are chiefly remarkable for their flowers, some 

 of which are of gigantic size. 



Order 13. Aristolochiace^, the Birthwort Order. — Cha- 

 racter. — Herbs ov cXivuhing shrubs. Leaves alternate. Flowers 

 axillary, "[hermaphrodite, dull- coloured, regular or irregular. 



Fig. 1001. 



Fkj. 999. Vertical section 

 of tlie flower of the com- 

 mon Birth\vort(.4 ristolo- 



chia Clematitis), Fi(j. 



lUOO. The gyncecium 

 and andrcEcium of tlie 



same. Fig. 1001. 



Transverse section of 

 the seed. 



