296 



HELWINGIACEjE. 



[DrCLlNOUS Exogens. 



Ordkr XCVIII. HELWINGIACEiE.— Helwingiads. 



Helwingiacea?, flecaisne, Ann. Sc. tfat. 2.ser. 6. 69. ,1836) ; Endl. p. 328. 

 Diagnosis. — Garryal Exogens, with fascicled flowers, and alternate leaves with 



A shrub. Leaves alternate, serrate, without deciduous stipules. Flowers 

 on the midrib of the leaves. Flowers unisexual. Calyx 

 simple, 3-4-parted, with ovate spreading segments, which are 

 deciduous in the females ; aestivation valvate. <J Stamens 

 3-4, alternate with the sepals. Anthers continuous, roundish, 

 turned inwards, 2-celled. Pollen smooth. $ Ovary adhe- 

 rent to the calyx, crowned by an epigynous disk, 3-4-celled, 

 with one ovule in each cell. Ovules pendulous from the inner 

 angles, anatropal. Style very short. Stigmas 3-4, short, 

 awl-shaped, diverging. Drupe surmounted by the remains 

 of the styles and disk, 3- or 4-celled, scarcely dehiscent (at 

 last loculicidal, Sieb.) ; the cocci one-seeded. Seeds sus- 

 pended by a short cord. Embryo minute, in the end of solid 

 fleshy albumen ; radicle superior. 



Although this Order appears to be composed at present of 

 only a single genus, yet it is one of those obscure apetalous uni- 

 sexual plants, of which few have yet engaged the attention of 

 Botanists, and it is almost sure to find companions hereafter ; 

 and even in the absence of this probability, its characters are 

 so well marked as to justify its establishment. M. Decaisne 

 seems inclined to refer it to the neighbourhood of Witch- 

 hazels, rather than to that of Spurgeworts, with which he, 

 however, compares it. But on the one hand, the minute em- 

 bryo and unisexual flowers remove it far from the former Or- 

 der ; and again, its inferior fruit, unisexuality, and seeds, bring 

 it near to Garryads, with which it seems more fit to be as- 

 sociated. With the Santalaceous Order, to which it has been 

 referred, it has an indirect affinity, as is shown by its inferior 

 fruit, small embryo, valvate calyx, and definite stamens. 



The only known species inhabits Japan. 



The mountaineers of Japan employ the young leaves of 

 Helwingia rusciflora as an esculent vegetable. — Siebold. 



stipules. 

 fascicled 



Fig. CCIV. 



GENUS. 



Helwingia, Willd. 



Quadriala, Zvcc. 



Numbers. Gen. 1. Sp. 1. 



Position. 



Euphorhiaccee. 

 Helwingiacea — Qarryacea. 

 SantalacecB. 



Fig. CCIV.— Helwingia rtiscifolia. — Siebold. 1. a $ flower ; 2. a ? ; 3. a perpendicular section of 

 the latter. 



