ZYGOPHYLLE^;. XIV. BALANITES. RUTACE^E. 



775 



Domingo, where it has been most probably introduced by the 

 negroes from Africa. 



Fierce Balanites. Tree 20 feet. 



Cult. These trees will grow in a mixture of loam, sand, and 

 peat ; and ripened cuttings will strike root freely, if planted in 

 a pot of sand, and placed under a hand-glass, in a moderate heat. 



ORDER LIX. RUTA V CE.5L (plants agreeing with Ruta in im- 

 portant characters). Juss. gen. 296. exclusive of the first sec- 

 tion. Brown, gen. rem. p. 13. D. C. prod. 1. p. 709. Fraxi- 

 nellse, Diosmeae, and Zanthoxylese, Nees et Mart. nov. act. bonn. 

 xi. p. 149. 180. and 184. 



Flowers of all hermaphrodite, except in Tribe Zanthoxyleee. 

 Calyx with 4-5, rarely 3 divisions, toothed (f. 123. a.), cleft or 

 parted. Petals equal in number to the divisions of the calyx 

 (f. 123. &.), and alternating with them, usually distinct (f. 123. 

 6.), and longer than the calyx, rarely connected into a monope- 

 talous corolla, as in many of the genera belonging to Tribe Cus- 

 pariece, and in the genus Corrafa, very rarely absent altogether. 

 Stamens sometimes equal in number with the petals, and alter- 

 nating with them; sometimes double that number (f. 123. d.), 

 with the alternate ones shortest ; sometimes these last are abor- 

 tive, and of a different figure to the others. Filaments inserted 

 in the gynophore, rarely beneath the hypogynous disk, and more 

 rarely perigynous, or adhering to the bottom of the calyx, in 

 consequence of the disk being joined with it ; they are either 

 naked or furnished with a scale at the base, free, very rarely 

 connected at the base, or glued to the corolla, as in those with 

 monopetalous flowers. Anthers 2-celled (f. 123. c.), bursting 

 lengthwise. Ovary free, with the cells equal in number to the 

 petals (f. 123. g.), and opposite them, rarely fewer, verticillate ; 

 sometimes fixed around the common axis ; sometimes distinct to 

 the base (f. 123.y.), sometimes joined together. Ovulae fixed to 

 the central placenta, usually 2 in each cell or carpel, rarely 1 or 4- 

 20. Styles equal in number to the cells or carpels, usually con- 

 nected together in one (f. 123. e.), or only connected at the base 

 or top, rarely wholly distinct. Stigma of as many lobes or furrows 

 as there are styles in those that are joined (f. 123. d.). Fruit 

 sometimes simple, having as many valves (f. 123. g.) as there 

 are styles, with a dissepiment in the middle of each valve, dehis- 

 cent, but more usually with an equal number of 2-valved, separ- 

 able carpels (f. 123. /.), rarely indehiscent, composed of many 

 drupes or carpels. Sarcocarp thin, or more or less fleshy. 

 Endocarp thin or woody, closely adhering to the sarcocarp, or 

 separable from it into a 2-valVed elastic cocculum. Seeds 

 fewer than the ovulae from abortion, with a membranous or usually 

 with a testaceous covering. Albumen fleshy or cartilaginously 

 horny, rarely wanting. Embryo white or greenish, with a 

 straight radicle pointing towards the top of the cells, rarely 

 turned obliquely towards the hylum. Cotyledons of various 

 forms. 



This is an interesting and extensive order, but rather hetero- 

 geneous group of plants, natives of all countries and all situations. 

 The species are either fetid northern herbaceous plants, as the 

 Garden Rue ; or neat heath-like southern shrubs, as the Cape 



Diosmas; broad or long-leaved Australian shrubs, covered with 

 stellate pubescence, as Phebalium, Crbrvea, and Corrce a ; or 

 tropical trees, with panicles of palid flowers, as Zanthoxylums, 

 and Cusparias. The medical properties of many genera are con- 

 siderable. R uta and Peganum are ammenagogue, anthelmintic, 

 and sudorific. Cape Diosmas abounds in a volatile oil, with an 

 agreeable smell, but acrid flavour ; several of the species are 

 reputed antispasmodics. The Zanlhoxylums are said to possess 

 acrid, stimulating, spasmodic, and tonic qualities. Z. clava Her- 

 culis and Z. fraxineum are said in America to be powerful 

 sudorifics and diaphoretics. According to Barton, they possess 

 a remarkable power of exciting salivation, not only when ap- 

 plied to the mouth, but even when taken internally ; they have 

 both been found powerful remedies in paralysis of the mouth. 

 Z. caribdumis regarded in Guiana as a detersive, vulnerary, and 

 febrifuge. Brucea is used as an astringent in dysenteries. The 

 famous frebrifugal Angustura bark is the produce of Gulipea 

 Cusparia. The leaves of the plants contained in this order are 

 of various kinds ; they are opposite or alternate, simple, trifoliate, 

 or abruptly and impari-pinnate, always without stipulas, which 

 distinguishes it from the last and the foregoing order, Zygo- 

 phyllete and Simarubece ; they have usually various glands, 

 which contain oil of a very strong-scented odour. 



Synopsis of the Genera. 



TRIBE I. 



RU'TE*. Flowers regular. Stamens hypogynous. Ovary 3-5 

 lobed, 3-5 valved, 3-5 celled. Calyx of 4-5 divisions, with an 

 equal number of petals. Albumen fleshy. Shrubs or herbs, with 

 alternate leaves. 



1 PE'GANUM. Calyx 5-parted. Stamens 15, smooth. Style 

 crowned by a trigonal stigma. Capsule substipitate, nearly 

 round, 3-celled, 3-valved, many-seeded. 



2 RU'TA. Calyx 4-parted. Stamens 8. Styles 4, connected. 

 Ovary substipitate. Capsule 4-lobed, 4-celled. 



3 APLOPHY'LLUM. Calyx 5-parted. Stamens 10. Styles 5, 

 connected. Capsule 5-lobed, 5-celled. 



4 CYMINOSMA. Calyx 4-parted, unequal. Stamens 8. Style 

 crowned by a 4-furrowed stigma. Berry 4-celled ; cells 1- 

 seeded. 



TRIBE II. 



Dio'sMEa:-EuROP^EA v N^;. Flowers irregular. Stamens hypo- 

 gynous. Disk wanting. Ovaries 5, distinct. Albumen fleshy. 

 Petals equal in number with the divisions of the calyx. 



5 DICTA'MNUS. Calyx 5-parted, unequal. Petals unequal. 

 Stamens 10, declinate. Style 1. Capsule substipitate, com- 

 posed of 5 2-seeded carpels. 



TRIBE III. 



DIO'SME^E-CAPE'NSES. Flowers regular. Calyx 5-parted. 

 Petals 5. Disk adhering to the calyx. Stamens perigynous. 

 Anthers 5. Ovaries 1-5, connected. Albumen very thin or wanting. 



C) CALODE'NDRON. Stamens 10, 5 of which are sterile and 

 petaloid, terminating in a gland. Anthers terminated by a gland. 



