RUTACE.E. 177 



nous, equal, with erect ungues, contorted in aestivation. 

 Stamens definite (10), often monadelphous at the bases ; 

 those opposite the petals form an inner series, and are 

 longer than the others ; anthers two- celled, innate. 

 Ovarium five-angled and celled ; styles five, filiform, 

 stigmata various. Fruit capsular and membranous, five- 

 cornered and celled, and from five to ten-valved. 

 Seeds few, attached to the axis, striated ; when young, 

 enclosed within a fleshy integument, but which bursts 

 at maturity ; albumen subcartilaginous, embryo the 

 length of the albumen, with a long radicle and folia- 

 ceous cotyledons. 



Herbs, shrubs, or trees, mostly with alternate com- 

 pound leaves ; inflorescence various, but seldom solitary. 



Geographical Relations. Especially abundant at the 

 Cape of Good Hope, Mexico, and Brazil, but found in 

 all the hotter and temperate parts of the globe. 



Properties. Acid and slightly astringent ; many mem- 

 bers show evidences of irritability. 



Officinal Plant. 

 Oxalis acetosella. 



13. RUTACE.E. 



Calyx of 4 or 5 divisions. Petals equal to the divi- 

 sions of the calyx with a twisted convolute aestivation. 

 Stamens twice as many as the petals, (rarely three 

 times). Disk sometimes dilated. Ovarium three or 

 five-lobed and celled, the cells two-ovuled, rarely one 

 or many, styles free or connate, stigmata simple or 

 dilated. Fruit multi- capsular, the capsules being con- 

 nate or more or less distinct; dehiscence loculicidal. 

 Seeds equal to, or fewer than the ovules, with crusta- 



