178 ZYGOPHYLLE.E, DIOSME.E. 



ceous testae ; albumen fleshy, radicle superior, and co- 

 tyledons flat. 



Herbs or shrubs with .exstipulate alternate leaves, 

 which are simple or compound, and covered mostly with 

 pellucid dots. 



Allied to Zygophyllese, and two following families, 

 very closely indeed. 



Geographical Relations. Natives of the southern parts 

 of Europe, and of Levantine Africa, and Asia, but 

 rarely met with in the tropics. 



Properties. Bitter and stimulating, and have strong 

 unpleasant odours. 



Officinal Plant. 

 Ruta graveolens. 



14. ZYGOPHYLLE.E. 



Differing from Rutacea in having mostly opposite 

 leaves furnished with stipules, and no pellucid dots ; 

 the albumen being fleshy, and cotyledons folia- 

 ceous, &c. 



Geographical Relations. Curiously scattered over va- 

 rious parts of the old and new worlds. 



Properties. Slightly acrid and bitter, but stimulating 

 and diaphoretic. 



Officinal Plant. 

 Guiacum officinale. 



15. DIOSME.E. 



Differing from Rutacea in the nature of their fruit, 

 " the endocarp of which separates entirely from the 



