190 CINCHONACE.E. 



grance of flower, and a cathartic or emetic property in 

 some, are their chief characteristics. 



Officinal Plant. 

 Sambucus nigra. 



26. CINCHONACE/E. 



Calyx superior, simple, with a definite number of di- 

 visions or none, and with connate bractese at its base. 

 Corolla superior, tubular, regular, with a definite num- 

 ber of divisions, which are valvate or imbricated in aesti- 

 vation, and equal to the segments of the calyx. Stamens 

 arising from the corolla, all on the same line, and alter- 

 nate with its segments. Pollen elliptical. Ovarium in- 

 ferior, surmounted by a disk, usually two-celled, occa- 

 sionally with several cells ; ovula numerous and attached 

 to a central placenta, or few and erect, or ascending ; 

 style single, inserted, sometimes partly divided ; stigma 

 usually simple, sometimes divided into a definite num- 

 ber of parts. Fruit inferior, either splitting into two 

 cocci, or indehiscent and dry, or succulent, occasionally 

 many-celled. Seeds definite or indefinite ; in the former 

 case erect or ascending, in the latter attached to a cen- 

 tral axis. Embryo small, oblong, surrounded by horny 

 albumen ; cotyledons thin, radicle longer, turned to- 

 wards the hilum. 



Trees, Shrubs, or Herbs. Leaves simple, quite entire, 

 opposite or verticil! ate, with iriterpetiolary stipules. 

 Flowers arranged variously, usually in panicles or 

 corymbs. 



Geographical Relations. Almost exclusively found in 

 the hotter parts of the world, especially within the 

 tropics, where they are said to constitue l-29th of the 

 whole number of flowering plants. (Above characters 

 from Lindl.) 



