VOCHYSIACE^E COMBRETACE2E. 409 



Mangrove, forms thickets at the muddy mouths of rivers in tropical 

 countries, and sends out adventitious roots which often raise the main 

 trunk much above its original level, and give the tree the appearance 

 of being supported upon stalks. The fruit is sweet and eatable. The 

 embryo germinates before the fruit falls, and the radicle is much elon- 

 gated before the seed drops into the mud. The anther consists of 

 numerous cells containing pollen. 



861. Order 74. VochyNiaceie, the Vochysia Family. (Polypet. 

 Perigyn.) Sepals 4-5, united at the base, unequal, the upper one 

 largest and spurred ; aestivation imbricated. Petals 1, 2, 3, or 5, 

 alternate with the divisons of the calyx, and inserted into its base, 

 unequal. Stamens 1-5, opposite to, or alternate with the petals, 

 perigynous, one having an ovate, fertile, 4-celled anther, -the rest 

 being sterile. Ovary free, or partially adherent to the calyx, 3-celled ; 

 ovules solitary or in pairs, rarely numerous, amphitropal or anatropal ; 

 style and stigma one. Fruit a triquetrous, 3-celled and 3-valved 

 capsule, usually with loculicidal dehiscence. Seeds usually 1 -2 in each 

 cell, erect, exalbuminous, attached to a central placenta; embryo 

 straight ; cotyledons large and leafy ; radicle short and superior. 

 Trees or shrubs, with opposite, entire, stipulate leaves. They inhabit 

 the warmer parts of America. Their properties are little known. 

 There are 8 genera enumerated, including 51 species. Examples 

 Vochysia, Qualea. 



862. Order 75. Combretacete, the Myrobalan Family. (Polypet. 

 Epigyn.) Calyx 4-5-lobed, lobes deciduous. Petals arising from the 

 orifice of the calyx, alternate with the lobes, or wanting. Stamens 

 epigynous, twice as many as the lobes of the calyx, rarely equal in 

 number, or thrice as many ; filaments distinct, subulate ; anthers di- 

 thecal, dehiscing longitudinally or by recurved valves. Ovary adherent 

 to the tube of the calyx, unilocular ; ovules 2-4, pendulous ; style 1 ; 

 stigma simple. Fruit succulent or nut-like, inferior, unilocular, inde- 

 hiscent, often winged. Seed solitary, pendulous, exalbuminous ; 

 cotyledons leafy, usually convolute, sometimes plicate ; radicle turned 

 towards the hilum. Trees or shrubs, with alternate or opposite exsti- 

 pulate, entire leaves. They are natives of the tropical regions of Asia, 

 Africa, and America. The general property of the order is astringency. 

 Many are used for tanning, and some for dyeing. The fruit of Ter- 

 minalia Belerica, and of T. Chebula, under the name of Myrobalans, 

 is used as an astringent. The seeds of Terminalia Catappa are eaten 

 like almonds. The order has been divided into three suborders : 

 1. Terminaliese, petals 0, cotyledons convolute. 2. Combretea?, petals 

 present, cotyledons plicate. 3. Gyrocarpeas, petals 0, cotyledons con- 

 volute, anthers dehiscing by recurved valves. There are 22 genera 

 enumerated by Lindley, including 200 species. Examples Termi- 

 nalia, Combretum, Gyrocarpus. 



