286 MANUAL OF BOTANY 



Distribution and Numbers. — Natives of equinoctial America. 

 Illustrative Genera : — Vochysia, Juss. ; Salvertia, *S'^. Hil. There 

 are about 50 species. 



Properties and Uses. — Generally unimportant, although some 

 are said to form useful timber. 



Cohort 4. — Canjoplnjllales. 



Order B. Frankeniace.e, the Frankenia Order. — C h a r a c t e r. 



Herbs or under sliruhs, much branched, witii small opposite 



exstipulate leaves, and sessile flowers. Calyx tubular, furrowed, 

 persistent. Petals unguiculate, 4-0, hypogynous. Stamens 4 or 

 more, hypogynous, distinct or connate at the base. Ovary 

 superior, 1-celled, with parietal placentas. Fruit capsular, 

 1-celled, enclosed in the calyx, and dehiscing in a septicidal 

 manner. Seeds numerous, minute ; embryo straight, erect, in the 

 middle of mealy albumen. 



Distribution and Numbers. — The plants of this order are 

 scattered over the globe, except in tropical India and North 

 America, but they occur chiefly in the south of Europe and 

 north of Africa. Illustrative Genera : — Frankenia, Linn. ; 

 Beatsonia, Boxb. There are about 24 species. 



Projjerties and Uses. — Unimportant. They have been 

 reputed mucilaginous and slightly aromatic. The leaves of a 

 species of Beatsonia are used at St. Helena as a substitute for 



tea. 



Order 69. CARYOPHYLLACEiE, the Pink Order. — Character. 



Herbs. Stems swollen at the nodes. Leaves opposite, entire, 



exstipulate, or w^ith small membranous stipules, often connate 

 at their base. Inflorescence cymose. Floivers generally herma- 

 phrodite, or rarely unisexual. Sejials 4 or ,5, distinct or united 

 into a tube, persistent. Petals equal in number to the sepals, 

 hypogynous, unguiculate, often deeply divided, sometimes ab- 

 sent, frequently raised above the calyx on a stalk. Stamens 

 equal in number to the sepals, and then either alternate or 

 opposite to them, or usually twice as numerous, or rarely fewer, 

 frequently attached with the petals on a stalk above the calyx ; 

 filaments generally distinct, or sometimes united at the base, 

 "subulate ; anthers innate. Ovary sessile, or supported with the 

 petals and stamens on a short gynophore, generally 1-celled, and 

 with a free central placenta, or rarely 2— 5-celled ; styles 2 to 5, 

 papillose on their inner surface ; ovules few or numerous, 

 amphitropous. Fruit a 1-celled capsule, opening by 2—5 valves, 

 or by 4 — 10 teeth at the apex, and having a free central placenta, 



