DICOTYLEDONES— CALYCIFLOK^ 349 



style simple ; stigma lobed or capitate. Fruit dehiscent or in- 

 dehiscent. Seeds numerous, without albumen. 



Distribution and Numbers. — Chiefly natives of the temperate 

 parts of North America and Em-ope ; many are also fovmd in 

 India, but they are rare in Africa, except at the Cape. Illus- 

 trative Genera ;— (Enothera, Linn.; Circsea, Tourn. There are 

 about 300 species. 



Projyerties ajid Uses. — Generally the plants are harmless 

 and possess mucilaginous properties. The roots of (Enothera 

 biennis and other species of the same genus are edible. The 

 fruits of many Fuchsias are somewhat acid and good to eat. 

 Some species of Jussicsa are astringent. 



Cohort 3. — Passijio rales. 



Order l^Q. Samydace.e, the Samyda Order. — Character. 

 Trees or shrubs. Leaves alternate, simple, evergreen, stipu- 

 late, usually with round or Imear transparent glands. Calyx 

 inferior, 4 — 5-partite. Petals absent. Stamens perigynous, 2, 

 3, or 4 times as man}- as the divisions of the calyx ; filaments 

 imited, some of them frequently without anthers ; anthers 2- 

 celled. Ovary superior, l-celled; style 1, filiform ; ^j^cicenf as 

 parietal, bearing numerous ovules. Fruit capsular, leathery, 1- 

 celled. Seeds numerous, arillate, ^^■ith oily or fleshy albumen ; 

 embryo large. 



Distribution and Numbers.— ^xclnsively tropical, and prin- 

 cipally American. Illustrative Genera : — Samyda, Linn. ; 

 Casearia, Jacq. There are more than 100 species. 



Projjerties and Uses. — Of little importance. They are com- 

 monly bitter and astringent. 



Order 147. Homaliace.e, the Homalium Order. — Charac- 

 ter. — Trees or shrubs, with alternate leaves. Crt7//.r superior, 

 funnel-shaped, with from 5 to 15 divisions. Petals equal in 

 number to, and alternate with, the divisions of the calyx. Sta- 

 mens opposite to the petals and inserted on them, either distinct 

 or in bundles of 3 or 6. Oi'«;-// inferior, l-celled; placentas 

 parietal; ovules numerous; styles 3 — 5. Fruit a capsule or 

 berry. Seeds small; embryo in the axis of a little fleshy albu- 

 men. This order is included in Samydacece by Bentham and 

 Hooher. 



Distribution and Numbers. — They are natives of the tropi- 

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

 Homalium, Jacq. ; Trimeria, Harv. There are about 36 spe- 

 cies. 



