DICOTYLEDONES— DISCIFLOR^ 315 



sometimes simple, exstipnlate. Floivers regular and symme- 

 trical, axillary, or terminal, perfect, or unisexual by abortion. 

 Calyx imbricate, in 4 or 5 divisions. Petals equal in number 

 to the divisions of the calyx, with an imbricate aestivation, 

 sometimes united into a tube. Stamens twice as many as the 

 petals, ihe filaments usually with a scale at their back ; anthers 

 with longitudinal dehiscence. Disc conspicuous, hypogynous. 

 Ovary stalked, 4- or 5-lobed, 4- or 5-celled, each cell with 1 

 suspended ovule ; style simple ; stigma with as many lobes as 

 there are cells to the ovary. Fruit usually consisting of 4 or 5 

 indehiscent, 1- seeded, drupaceous carpels, arranged around a 

 common axis, or capsular or samaroid. Seeds with a membranous 

 integument, exalbuminous ; radicle superior, retracted within 

 thick cotyledons. 



Distribution and^ Numbers. — With the exception of one 

 plant, which is a native of Nepaul, they are all found in the 

 tropical parts of India, America, and Africa. Illustrative 

 Genera : — Quassia, Linn. ; Simaruba, Aubl. There are about 50 

 species. 



Properties and Uses. — A bitter principle is the most remark- 

 able characteristic of the order ; hence many of them are tonic 

 and febrifugal. 



Order 97. Ochnace^, the Ochna Order. — Character. — 

 Under-shrubs or smooth trees, with a watery juice. Leaves simple, 

 stipulate, alternate. PerZice/s jointed in the middle. Sejjals 5, 

 persistent, imbricate. Petals hypogynous, definite, sometimes 

 twice as many as the sepals, deciduous, imbricate. Stamens 

 equal in number to the sepals and opposite to them, or twice as 

 many, or more numerous; filaments persistent, inserted on an 

 hypogynous fleshy disc ; anthers 2-celled, with longitudinal or 

 porous dehiscence. Carpels sessile, corresponding in number to 

 the petals, inserted on a large fleshy disc, which becomes larger 

 as the carpels grow ; ovules 1 in each carpel. Fruit consisting 

 of several indehiscent, somewhat drupaceous, 1-seeded carpels. 

 Seeds exalbuminous or nearly so ; embryo straight ; radicle to- 

 wards the hilum. 



Distribution and Numbers. — Natives chiefly of the tropical 

 parts of India, Africa, and America. Illustrative Genera : — 

 Gomphia, Schreb.', Ochna, Schreh. There are about 80 

 species. 



Properties and Uses. — The plants are generally remarkable 

 for their bitterness. Some have been employed as tonics and 

 astringents ; others, as Gomphia parvifiora, yield oil, which is 



