396 



TERNSTROMIACE/E. 



[Hypogynous Exogexs. 



Okder. CXLII. TERNSTROMIACEiE.— Theads. 



Ternstromiese, Mirbel. Bull. Philom. 3S1. (1813).— Ternstromiaceje, DC. Mini. Soc. H. N. Genev. vol. 1 

 (1823) ; Prodr. 1. 523. (18241 ; Cambesstdes Memoire, (1828) ; Endl. Gen. ccxv. ; Meisn. Gen. p. 40.; 

 Wight Illustr. 1. p. 94.— Theaceae, Mirb. Bull. Phil. (1813).— Camelliese, DC. Thior. Elim. ed. 1. 

 (1813); Prodr. 1. 529. 11824). 



Diagnosis. — ChMiferal Exogens, with simple alternate leaves, without stipules or with very 

 small ones, symmetrical Jlowers, equilateral petals, versatile anthers, few or single 

 seeds, and stigmas on a long style. 

 Trees or shrubs. Leaves alternate, coriaceous, generally without stipules, usually 



undivided, now and then with pellucid dots. Peduncles axillary or terminal, articulated 





Fig. CCLXXIX. 



at the base. Flowers generally white, seldom pink or red, occasionally polygamous. 

 Sepals 5 or 7, imbricated in aestivation, concave, coriaceous, deciduous, the innermost 

 often the largest. Petals 5, 6, or 9, not equal in number to the sepals, often combined 

 at the base. Stamens 00, hypogynous ; filaments filiform, monadelphous or polyadel- 

 phous, or distinct ; anthers versatile, or adnate, "2-celled, opening longitudinally ; ovary 

 superior, with several cells ; styles from 3 to 7, filiform, more or less combined ; ovules 

 pendulous, or erect, or peltate. Capsule 2-7-celled and capsular, with the dehiscence 

 taking place in various ways ; sometimes coriaceous and indehiscent ; usually with a 

 central column. Seeds attached to the axis, large, very few ; albumen none, or 

 in very small quantity ; embryo straight, bowed, or folded back, the radicle turned to 

 the hilum ; cotyledons very large, often filled with oil, occasionally plaited lengthwise ; 

 an aril sometimes present. 



This Order originated in 1813, with Mirbel, who separated some of its genera from 

 Citronworts, where they had been placed by Jussieu, and at the same time founded 

 another closely allied Order, under the name of Theads. These opinions were substan- 

 tially adopted by Kunth and De Candolle the latter of whom, moreover, formed several 

 sections among the genera. Since that time the Theads have attracted the attention of 

 several Botanists, especially of M. Cambessedes, whose views are generally adopted. He, 

 however, combines under this Order genera with axile and parietal placentation, with 

 truly albuminous and exalbuminous seeds, with large amygdaloid embryos, and those whose 

 embryo is too small to be easily found among its copious albumen, to say nothing of other 

 differences of considerable moment. It is therefore difficult to suppose that such an 

 arrangement can be maintained ; and at least we must, I think, remove a genus 

 called Saurauja, consisting of about 30 Asiatic trees or shrubs, in which there is a ten- 

 dency to form a monopetalous corolla, an infinite number of minute seeds, a very small 

 embryo lying in the base of abundant albumen, and anthers opening by pores ; it 



Tig. CCLXXIX.— Kielmeyera rosea. 1. the pistil; 2. a transverse section of it; 3. a ripe fruit; 4. embryo. 



