HOMALIACE^E SANTALACE^E ARISTOLOCHIACEJE. 489 



00, attached to parietal placentas, semi-anatropal ; style 1, filiform ; 

 stigma capitate or slightly lobed. Fruit a coriaceous, unilocular, 3-5- 

 valved capsule, partially dehiscent. Seeds 00, fixed irregularly on the 

 pulpy inner surface of the valves, with a fleshy arillus, and a hollowed 

 hilum ; embryo large, in the midst of oily or fleshy albumen ; cotyle- 

 dons ovate, foliaceous ; radicle pointing to the extremity remote from 

 the hilum. Trees or shrubs, with alternate, simple, stipulate leaves, 

 usually having pellucid, round, or linear markings. Natives of tropi- 

 cal regions, chiefly in America. Some of the species of Casearia are 

 bitter and astringent. There are 5 known genera, and 80 species. 

 Examples Samyda, Casearia. 



1006. Order 159. Homaiiaceie, the Homalia Family. (Apet. 

 Pengyn.) Perianth funnel-shaped, with 5 to 15 divisions, and having 

 usually alternating petaloid segments, and glands or scales in front of 

 the outer divisions. Stamens perigynous, either single or in parcels of 

 3 or 6, alternating with the outer divisions of the perianth ; anthers 

 dithecal, with longitudinal dehiscence. Ovary partly adherent to the 

 tube of the perianth, 1 -celled; ovules numerous, anatropal, pendulous, 

 attached to 2, 3, or 5 parietal placentas ; styles 3-5, simple, filiform, 

 or subulate. Fruit either baccate or capsular. Seeds small, ovate ; 

 embryo in the axis of fleshy albumen ; cotyledons leafy ; radicle 

 superior. Trees or shrubs with alternate leaves, having deciduous 

 stipules. Many look upon the petaloid division of the perianth as 

 true petals. Lindley puts this order in his Cactal alliance, and con- 

 siders it as allied to Loasaceae. It contains tropical plants, which do not 

 possess any important properties. Lindley mentions 8 genera, includ- 

 ing 30 species. Examples Homalium, Nisa. 



1007. Order 160. Santaiacete, the Sandalwood Family. (Apet. 

 EpigynJ) Perianth superior, 4-5-cleft ; aestivation valvate. Stamens 

 4-5, opposite the segments of the perianth, and inserted into their 

 bases. Ovary coherent, 1-celled; ovules 1-4, pendulous from the apex 

 of a central placenta ; style 1 ; stigma often lobed. Fruit nut-like or 

 drupaceous. Seed solitary; embryo minute, in the axis of fleshy 

 albumen ; radicle superior. Trees, shrubs, or herbs, with alternate or 

 nearly opposite exstipulate leaves. Found in various parts of the 

 world, as Europe, Asia, America, and New Holland. Lindley gives 18 

 genera, including 110 species. Examples Santalum, Osyris, Thesium. 



1 008. Some are astringent, others yield fragrant wood. Santalum 

 album, and other Indian and Polynesian species, yield Sandalwood, 

 which is used both medicinally and as a perfume. The seeds of some 

 of the plants of the order are eaten. The species of Thesium seem to 

 be root-parasites. The large seeds of Pyrutaria oleifera, Buffalo-tree, 

 or Oil-nut, yield a fixed oil. 



1009. Order 161. Aristolochiaceie, the Birthwort Family. (Apet. 

 Epigyii). Perianth adherent, tubular, 3-cleft (fig. 699), regular or 



