CARYOPHYLLALES. 549 



to be one of the most delicious of all fruits, is produced by Oarcinia, 

 Mangostana, a small tree of the Moluccas. 



The fruit of Mammea Americana, a tall West Indian tree, is known 

 as the Manimee Apple. It is as large as a melon, and its yellow pulp 

 is said to be delicious. 



A Central American species oiCalopliyllum yields a pale reddish, very 

 durable timber known as Santa Maria wood. 



Order Hypericacese. Herbs and shrubs (a few trees) with opposite 

 glandular-punctate leaves, and monoclinous flowers. Stamens united 

 into three or five bundles (Fig. 526). Species 210, 

 mostly found in temperate climates. 



Our species are all herbs or low shrubs, be- 

 longing to the genera Hypericum and Ascyrum. 



A species of Cratoxylon, in tropical India, is a 

 large tree with dark brown wood. 



Order Elatinaceee. Containing a few marsh 

 plants. 



601. Cohort XXXIII. Caryophyll- Fig. 526.-Diagram of 



i -r-vi i T the llower of Hi/mri- 



ales. I 1 lowers actinomorpnic ; stamens cum caiycinum.Atter 

 generally definite, usually as many or s 

 twice as many as the petals ; ovary superior, one-celled ; pla- 

 centa usually central and free ; seeds with endosperm. 



Order Tamarisciirsm. Mostly shrubs of the Old World, with mi- 

 nute alternate simple leaves. 



Of the forty species, but three are found in the New World, and all 

 these reach our extreme Southwestern border. 



Tamarix Gattica, the Tamarisk of Europe to India, is a common 

 ornamental shrub in this country. 



Order Portulacaceae. Herbs and a few small shrubs, with alter- 

 nate or opposite leaves ; sepals generally two. Species 125, widely dis- 

 tributed, but most abundant in the New World. 



Portulaca oleracea, the common Purslane, is an East Indian, or possi- 

 bly South European weed. It was formerly used as a pot herb. 



P. grandiflora, the Portulaca of the gardens, is a pretty flowering 

 annual. 



Claytonia and .Calandrinia, which have many native representatives, 

 are ornamental. 



Order Caryophyllaceee. The Pink Family. Mostly herbs with 

 opposite leaves ; sepals four or five, free or united into a tube ; placenta 

 central. Species 800, distributed throughout the world, but most 

 abundant in Arctic, Alpine, European, and Western Asiatic coun- 

 tries. 



