294 MANUAL OF BOTANY 



cal flowers, versatile anthers, and very numerous minute seeds. 

 Some genera of the order are remarkable for their peculiar bracts, 

 which become hooded, pouched, or spurred. They are distin- 

 guished from Hypericaceae chiefly by their unsymmetrical 

 flowers, equal-sided petals, distinct stamens, and sessile stigmas. 

 They are sometimes placed as a tribe of Ternstroemiacete. 



Distribution and Numbers. — Generally natives of equinoc- 

 tial America. Illustrative Genera : — Piu^^schia, Jacq. ; Marc- 

 graavia. Plum. There are 26 species. 



Properties and Uses. — Scarcely anything is known of their 

 properties. Marcgraavia umbellata is reputed to be diuretic and 

 antisyphilitic. 



Order 79. Ehizobolace^, the Souari-nut Order. — Cha- 

 racter. — Large trees. Leaves opposite, coriaceous, digitate, 

 exstipulate, with an articulated stalk. Sepals 5 or 6, more or 

 less united, imbricate. Petals 5 to 8, unequal. Stamens very 

 numerous, slightly monadelphous, in two whorls, the inner 

 shorter and often abortive, inserted with the petals on an hypo- 

 gynous disc ; anthers 2-celled, with longitudinal dehiscence. 

 Ovary 4-, 5-, or many-celled ; styles short, as many as the cells 

 of the ovary ; stigmas small ; ovules solitary, attached to the 

 axis. Fruit consisting of several combined indehiscent 1-seeded 

 nuts. Seeds reniforui, exalbuminous, with the funiculus expanded 

 so as to form a spongy excrescence ; radicle very large, forming 

 the great bulk of the embryo ; cotyledons very small. This 

 order is frequently incorporated with the Ternstroemiaceee. 



Diagnosis. — Large trees, with opposite digitate exstipulate 

 leaves, with an articulated stalk. Flowers regular, hypogynous. 

 Petals equal-sided, and inserted with the numerous stamens on 

 an hypogynous disk. Styles very short. Seed solitary, exalbu- 

 minous, with a very large radicle, and two very small coty- 

 ledons. 



Distribution and Numbers.— The order contains but 2 

 genera, including 8 species, all of which are large trees, natives 

 of the forests in the hottest parts of South America. Illustrative 

 Genus : — Caryocar, Linn. 



Projjerties and Uses. — Some of the trees are valuable for 

 their timber, others yield edible nuts, and some an excellent 

 oil. 



Order 80. DiPTERACEiE, the Sumatra Camphor Order. 

 — Character. — Large trees with a resinous juice. Leaves 

 alternate, involute, feather-veined, with large convolute 

 deciduous stipules. Calyx 5-lobed, tubular, unequal, persistent, 



