MALPIGIIIACE;E. 145 



nating with the teeth of the calyx, valvular, each with a bifid 

 (?) plaited scale at the base. Stamens 10, rather longer than 

 the petals, slightly monadelphous at the base. Ovary globular, 

 sub-3-gonal : styles 3, very short : stigmata capitate. Drupe 

 oblong, obsoletely 3-gonal, scarlet, resembling the fruit of the 

 Barberry, 1 -seeded: seed costate, especially on one side. 



This shrubby tree ripens its fruit in May, when, from its 

 numerous bright scarlet berries, it readily attracts notice. 



ORDER XXXIX. MALPIGHIACE.E. 



Calycine sepals 5, slightly combined, persistent. 

 Petals 5, alternate with the lobes of the calyx, inserted 

 on a hypogynous disk, clawed. Stamens 10, alter- 

 nate with the petals. Ovary 1, generally 3-lobed, 

 formed of 3 carpels, more or less combined : styles 3, 

 distinct or combined into 1. Fruit dry or berried, 

 S-celled or 3-lobed; cells 1 -seeded. Seeds pendu- 

 lous, without albumen : embryo more or less curved 

 or straight : radicle short : lobes leafy or thickish. 



Shrubs or trees. Leaves opposite, scarcely ever alternate, 

 without dots, generally furnished with stipules. Flowers race- 

 mose or corymbose. Pedicels articulated about the middle, 

 with a pair of minute bracteas. Almost exclusively natives of 

 intertropical America. The fruits of a few of the species are 

 edible. The bark of MALPIGHIA MOUREILA, is, according to 

 Aublet, employed in Cayenne as a substitute for bark. With 

 these exceptions, no remarkable properties can be assigned to 

 any of the Tribe. 



I. MALPIGHIA. 



Calyx 5-partite, furnished externally at the base 

 with 8-10 glandules. Petals clawed. Stamens with 

 filaments shortly monadelphous at the base. Styles 

 3, distinct. Drupe containing 3 one-seeded stones. 



Shrubs. Peduncles axillary, either one-flowered or bearing 

 umbellated pedicels. Named, by Plumier, in honour of Mar- 

 cello Malpighi, Professor of Medicine at Bologna, author of the 

 Anatomia Plantarum, published in 1765 and 1769. 



VOL. I. L 



