DICOTYLEDONES— THALAMIFLOR^ 267 



Projjerties and Uses. — These plants are chiefly remarkable 

 for bitter, tonic, and aromatic principles. Some of the Schi- 

 zandreae have mucilaginous edible fruits. 



Order 50. Axonace^, the Custard-apple Order. — Cha- 

 racter. — Trees or shrubs, sometimes climbing. Leaves alter- 

 nate, simple, exstipulate. Calyx of three sepals, generally united 

 at the base, persistent. Corolla, of usually six petals, in two 

 whorls, leathery ; (Estivationusually yalvsite ; hypogj'nous, rarel3' 

 united. Stamens usually numerous, and inserted on a large 

 In'pogynous thalamus ; connective enlarged, 4-angled ; anthers 

 adnate. Carpels usually numerous, distinct or united, or very 

 rarely solitary, with one or more anatropous ovules. Fruit com- 

 posed of a number of dry or succulent carpels, which are distinct, 

 or united so as to form a fleshy mass or rarely simple. Seeds 

 one or more, anatropous ; embryo minute ; albumen ruminated. 



Diagnosis. — Trees or shrubs. Leaves alternate. No stipules. 

 Calj'x of 3 sepals, persistent. Petals 6, in two rows, hypo- 

 gynous, usually valvate. Anthers adnate, with an enlarged 4- 

 cornered connective. Albumen ruminated. 



Distribution, and Xu))ibers. — The plants of this order are 

 almost entirely confined to the tropical regions of Asia, Africa, 

 and America. None are found in Europe. Illustrative Genera : — 

 Xylopia, Linn. ; Anona, Linn. ; Monodora, Dunal. There are 

 47 genera and nearly 400 species in this order. 



Projjerties and Uses. — Generally aromatic and fragrant in 

 all their parts. Some have edible fruits, which are much 

 esteemed. 



Order 51. MENrsPERMACE.^, the Moon-seed Order. — Cha- 

 racter. — Climbing or trailing sJirubs. Leaves alternate, simple, 

 exstipulate, usually entire. Floivers dioecious. Staminate 

 flower : — Calyx and corolla with a ternary arrangement of their 

 parts, generally in two whorls, imbricate or valvate. Stamens 

 usually distinct, equal and opposite to the petals, rarely more or 

 fewer, sometimes monadelphous. Carpels rudimentary or 

 wanting. Pistillate flower : —Sepals daidi petals usually resem- 

 bling those of the ^ flower. Stamens imperfectly developed, 

 or wanting. Carpels usually 3, sometimes 6 or x , commonly 

 supported on a gynophore, distinct, 1-celled, each containing one 

 curved ovule. Fruits drupaceous, curved around a central j)la- 

 cental process, 1-celled. Seeds 1 in each cell, and curved so as 

 to assume the form of that cell; embryo curved; albumen co- 

 pious or scanty ; sometimes ruminate ; rarely 0. 



Diagnosis. — Trailing or climbing shrubs. Leaves alternate, 



