STACKHOUSIACE^E CELASTRACEJE. 393 



orders. A calyx and corolla are present, in other words, the plants 

 are Dichlamydeous ; the petals are distinct and the stamens are attached 

 to the calyx, being thus more or less Perigynous. This subclass, 

 along with Thalamiflorae, comprises the Dialypetalse of Endlicher. It 

 has been already stated that De Candolle included in this division 

 gamopetalous plants, in which the ovary is inferior. 



836. Order 61. siackhonsiacete, the Stackhousia Family. (Poly- 

 petal. Perigyn.) Calyx 5 -cleft, equal with an inflated tube. Pe- 

 tals 5, equal, inserted at the top of the tube of the calyx, claws of 

 the petals united, limb narrow and stellate. Stamens 5, unequal, 

 attached to the tube of the calyx. Ovary superior, 3 -5 -celled, cells 

 partially distinct : ovules solitary, erect ; styles 3-5, sometimes united 

 at the base ; stigmas simple. Fruit consisting of 3-5 indehiscent 

 pieces, which are sometimes winged, and are attached to a central 

 persistent column. Seeds anatropal ; embryo long, erect, in the axis 

 of fleshy albumen. Shrubs with simple, entire, alternate, stipulate 

 leaves, found in New Holland, and not possessing any marked pro- 

 perties. Lindley notices 2 genera, and 10 species. Example 

 Stackhousia. 



837. Order 62. Ceiastracrae, the Spindle-tree Family. (Polypet. 

 Perigyn.) Sepals 4-5, imbricated in aestivation. Petals 4-5, with a 

 broad base, and an imbricated aestivation, rarely wanting. Stamens 

 alternate with the petals; anthers erect. Disk large, flat, and expanded, 

 surrounding the ovary to which it adheres. Ovary superior, 2-5- 

 celled ; ovules ascending, one or numerous, attached to the axis by a 

 short fuuiculus. Fruit either a 2-5-celled capsule, with loculicidal 

 dehiscence, or drupaceous. Seeds one or many in each cell, anatropal, 

 usually ascending, and sometimes arillate (figs. 481, 482); albumen 

 fleshy ; embryo straight, with flat cotyledons and a short radicle. 

 Small trees or shrubs, with simple, alternate, rarely opposite leaves, 

 and small deciduous stipules. They inhabit the warm parts of Europe, 

 North America, and Asia, and many are found at the Cape of Good 

 Hope. The order contains 24 known genera, and 260 species. It 

 has been divided into two tribes: 1. Euonymeas, with capsular fruit. 

 2. Elasodendrea?, with drupaceous fruit. Examples Celastrus, Eu- 

 onymus, Elasodendron. 



838. The plants of the order have subacrid properties, and the 

 seeds of some yield a useful oil. Some of the species of Celastrus, as 

 C. venenatus, are reckoned poisonous. The seeds of Euonymus, Spindle- 

 tree, are surrounded by an aril, or rather arillode, which is considered 

 as a prolongation from the exostome (figs. 481, 482). In some of 

 the species the capsules are crimson, and with the bright scarlet aril- 

 lodes, they present a very showy appearance when the fruit is ripe. 

 The bark of Euonymus tingens furnishes a yellow dye. The young 



