DIOSPYRIN.E. PRIMULINJE. 511 



useful order in several respects (400 tropical species). The wood of some 

 geuera, such as Sideroxylon (Iron-wood) and Bumelia, is as hard as iron. The 

 latex of Palaquium (P. oblong i folium, P. gutta, and other species), Mimmops 

 and Payena (Sumatra, E. Ind.), is the raw material of gutta percha. The 

 following have very delicious fruits : Lucuma mammosa, Achras sapota, 

 Chrysophyllum cainito (Star-apple), etc. The seeds of Bassia (E. Ind.) contain 

 a large quantity of a fatty oil. Isonandra, Mimmops schimperi are often found- 

 in the Egyptian royal tombs. 



Order 2. Ebenaceae. Plants without latex, often dioecious ; flowers with a 

 more or less leathery perianth. The number of stamens is sometimes increased 

 (by splitting ? ) ; ovules 1-2, pendulous in each loculas. Fruit a berry. 250- 

 species ; chiefly tropical. Some are well known on account of their hard and 

 black-coloured heart-wood, e.g. Maba ebenus (the Moluccas) and Diospyros 

 ebe.num (Ebony-wood, from Tropical Asia) and others. The fruits are edible 

 e.g. of Diospyros lotus (Date-plum, Asia), which is also cultivated as an orna- 

 mental shrub, together with several other species. 



Order 3. Styracacese. The flower is more or less epigynous, and the corolla 

 is almost polypetalous. The stamens (by splitting ?) are more than double the- 

 number of the petals, and often united at the base. Stellate hairs are frequent. 

 235 species ; Tropical Asia and America, a few for example in the East. 

 OFFICINAL: Gum - benzoin from Sty rax benzoin and perhaps other species- 

 (Sumatra and Siam). Halesia tetraptera (N. Am.) is an ornamental shrub- 

 with 4-winged fruits. 



Family 28. Primulinse. 



The flowers are regular, , hypogynous, and gamopetalous. 

 The stamens are equal in number to the petals (Fig. 547) and are 

 placed opposite to them. The ovary is unilocular, with a free, 

 central placenta with 1-many ovules. The flower is a further de- 

 velopment of the Diospyrinae ; the suppression of the calyx- 

 stamens, which commenced in this family, 

 is carried further in the Primulinse, so that 

 in the majority of cases no trace of them 

 is present, but in certain species and genera 

 (Samolus, Lysimachia tliyrsiflora, Soldanella, 

 certain Myrsinege) some small bodies (scales, 

 teeth, etc.) are found in the position of the 

 suppressed stamens. Again, the lateral 

 portions of the carpels are suppressed, so 

 that the ventral placentce with the ovules PIG. 54,7. Diagram of 

 are separated from the dorsal portions, and 



are united into a free central placenta ; this theory is supported by 

 the branching of the vascular bundles, the development, and various 

 comparative considerations. Sn, Pn, AO + n, Gu; where n = 4-8, 

 generally 5. The carpels are placed opposite- the sepals (Fig. 547), 



w. B. L L 



