444 6 



OLACACE^E. 



[Htpogynous Exogens. 



Fig. CCCVIII. bis. 



which is sometimes somewhat lateral ; ovules 2 in each cell, one being always a 



little superimposed, attached to a small cup-shaped 

 podosperm from the summit of the axis, so that when 

 there is only a single cell, they appear as if suspended 

 somewhat parietally from near the summit, anatropal, 

 sometimes resupinated. Style simple, erect, sometimes 

 incurved and excentric, rarely wanting. Stigma clayate, 

 or obsoletely lobed. Fruit drupaceous, with a single 

 1-celled, very rarely 2-celled putamen. Seed single, sus- 

 pended, resupinate ; testa thin, membranaceous, with a 

 dorsal raphe and a nearly basal chalaza ; embryo in the 

 axis of fleshy albumen, sometimes with small oval coty- 

 ledons, scarcely longer and broader than the superior 

 terete radicle, often as long as the albumen, with large 

 oval foliaceous cotyledons longer and broader than the 

 short terete superior radicle. 

 " Until lately this groupe of plants was confounded with 

 the Olacaeeae, with which, as will be seen from the above 

 characters, they hold no relation. They differ most 

 essentially in the calyx being always small, persistent 

 and unchanged, never increasing with the growth of the fruit, the stamens being 

 always alternate with the petals, not opposite; the petals and stamens are never fixed 

 on the margin of the conspicuous cup-shaped disk; the ovarium is normally plun- 

 locular with axile placentation, and when unilocular, this happens only from the 

 abortion of the other cells, the traces of which are always discernible, never com- 

 pletely unilocular at the summit, and plurilocular at base, with free central placen- 

 tation. In Icacinaceae the ovules are suspended below the summit of the cell in 

 pairs superimposed by cup-shaped podosperms ; only one of these becomes perfected, 

 being often (if not always) retroverted, as in Euonymus, and the seed is furnished 

 with the usual integuments, with a dorsal raphe, and nearly basal chalaza; in 

 Olacaeeae the ovules are suspended from a free central placenta, and though only one 

 becomes perfected, it is always deprived of any integumental covering, the remanet 

 of the placenta and incomplete dissepiments appearing like a false raphe impressed 

 into a groove of the albumen, as in Santalaceae. In the Icacinaceae the flowers are 

 always articulated on their pedicels. They are evidently allied closely to Aqui- 

 foliaceae, from which they differ in the aestivation of the corolla; from the Celastraceae 

 they differ in few respects, except in the aestivation of the corolla, and the pendulous 

 ovules and seeds." (Monographs of the different genera that compose this family 

 have recently been published by Mr. Miers, who intends giving drawings and analytical 

 details of the structure of each. He proposes to form a distinct alliance, which he 

 calls Eudryales, of several families chiefly distinguished by their dichlamydeous 

 symmetrical flowers, consolidated carpels with axile placentae, consisting of the 

 Celastraceae, Aquifoliaceae, Icacinaceae, Hippocrateaceae, Chailletiaceae, Cyrillaceae, and 

 perhaps others.) , , , 



" In the Plantce Jamnicce rariores, the genus Sarcostigma has lately been placed Dy 

 Brown among the Phytocreneae, but with little evidence to prove such an affinity. 



" This groupe consists of evergreen trees and shrubs, natives of tropical or nearly 

 tropical countries, chiefly the East Indies, Africa, and South America, a single species 

 being found each in New Holland, Norfolk Island, and New Zealand. 

 " No record has been made of the uses to which they are applied." 



I. ICACINEvE. 



Icacina, A. Jwsx. 

 Apoflytes, E. Mey. 

 Raphiostylis, Planch. 

 Leretia, Veil. 

 Mappia, Jacq. 



Niithapodytes, Bl. 

 Pesmostachys, Planch. 

 Poraqueiba, Avlil. 



GENERA. 



Meisteria, Scop. 

 Barreria, Willd. 



II. SARCOSTIQME.E. 



Pennantia, For.it. 

 Stemonurus, £1. 



Lasianthera, Pal. Bcauv. 



Gomphandra, Wall. 



Platea, SI. 



Phlcbocatymna, Griff. 

 Sarcostigma, W. & A. 

 Discophora, Miers. 



III. Emmote.e. 



Emmotum, Desv. 

 Pogopetalmn, Beutli. 



Numbers. Gen. 13. Sp. 65. 

 Aquifoliaceae. — Icacinaceae. — Celastraceae. 



J. Miers. 



Fig. CCCVIII. bis.-l. section of ovary of Apodytes dimidiata ; 2. stamen of ditto seen in front; 

 X frSit of Mappia tomentosa ; 4. its putamen ; 5. perpendicular section of its seed-front dramngs 

 bu Mr. Miers. 



