471 



OCHNACE/E. 



[Hypogtnous Exogens. 



Order CLXXVIII. OCHNACEjE.— Ochnads. 



Ochnaceae, DC. Ann. Mu.i. 17. 398. (1811) ; Prodr. 1. 735. (1824) ; Endl. Gen. ccxlviii. ; Meisner, p. 66. 



Diagnosis.— Rutal Exogens, with a one-seeded finally apocarpous fruit, whose pericarp 

 does not laminate, and a succulent conical torus. 



Very smooth trees, or more generally under-shrubs, sometimes downy, having a 

 watery juice. Leaves alternate, simple, entire, or toothed, with 2 stipules at the base, 



or one in the axil. Flowers usually in racemes, with 

 an articulation in the middle of the pedicels. Sepals 

 5, persistent, imbricated in aestivation. Petals hypo- 

 gynous, definite, sometimes twice as many as the 

 sepals, deciduous, spreading, imbricated in aestivation. 

 Stamens 5, opposite the sepals, or 10, or 00, arising 

 from a hypogynous disk ; filaments persistent ; an- 

 thers 2-celled, innate, opening by pores, or longitu- 

 dinally. Carpels equal in number to the petals, lying 

 upon an enlarged, tumid, fleshy disk, (the gynobase) ; 

 their styles combined in one ; ovule erect or pendu- 

 lous, anatropal. Fruit composed of as many pieces 

 as there were carpels, indehiseent, somewhat drupa- 

 ceous, 1-seeded, articulated with the gynobase, which 

 grows with their growth. Seeds without albumen 

 or nearly so ; embryo straight ; radicle next the 

 hilum ; cotyledons thick. 



The great fleshy gynobase, or torus, of the species 

 constituting this Order, affords their strongest mark 

 of recognition. In this respect, indeed, there is an 

 approach to the peculiar structure of Cranesbills, or 

 even of some Mallowworts. The foliage is sometimes 

 very shining and marked with closely set veins like 

 those of Calophyllum, a genus of the Order of Gut- 

 tifers. From the other Orders now associated 

 with them they are often known by their anthers 

 opening by pores, and their solitary, erect ovules ; 

 but neither of them are always characteristic of 

 Ochnads. The great succulent torus must always 

 be regarded as one of their chiefest distinctions. 

 According to the views of an anonymous writer in 

 the Linneea, this Order should be placed near Rose- 

 worts, and not Rueworts, with which and the kindred 

 Orders he thinks that Ochnads have little affinity. 



Fig. CCCXXVIII. 

 Found in tropical India, 



— Linneea, xiv. 248. 

 Africa and America ; a few are from the Cape of Good 



These plants are for the most part bitter. Walkera serrata has a bitter root and 

 leaves and is employed in Malabar, in decoction in milk or water, as a tonic, stomachic, 

 and anti-emetic. The bark of Ochna hexasperma is used in Brazil as a cure for the 

 sores produced in cattle by the punctures of insects. It probably acts as an astringent. 

 ( astela Nicolsoni or Goatbush, is said to be as bitter as Quassia itself. The root and 

 leaves of Gomphia angustifolia are bitter, and employed in Malabar, in decoction in 

 milk or water, as a tonic, stomachic, and anti-emetic. G. hexasperma and Jabotapita 

 are Brazilian remedies exhibited where bitters are demanded. The oil of G. parviflora 

 is used in salads in Brazil. 



1. expanded flower; 2. section of pistil and stamens; 



Fig. CCCXXVIII.— Ochua duhia.— Decaisne. 

 3. pistil ; 4. section of a ripe carpel. 



