PirauLM.] 



tllLURAMHAi 1.1 



9 



Ordbb CXCVII. CHLORANTHACE.E — Chlobanths. 





Clllorantli, i . li. linnrn in I i-L'l ; U 



atque SaumreU, 51. (1887) ; itiume flora Java, (18J i ■ ./.'.;■ 



>■ . 1\\\. ; '•' up. 334. 



DIAGNOSIS. /'/■• i <, with a tolititri/ air/,-/, a tutpcnded 



and opp 1 with intermedial* rt»j 



1 1< rbaoeous ]il;uits or under-slnulis, « itli an aromatic taste. Sinus jointed, tumid at 

 tin- articulations. Leaves opposite, simple, with Bheathing petioles and minute inter- 

 vening stipules. Flowers in terminal 

 spikes. Flowers naked, «it!i ;i support- 

 ing scale. Stamens lateral ; ii more 

 than 1, connate, definite ; anthers 1- 

 eelled, in Chloranthus, bursting longitu- 

 dinally, each adnata to a fleshy connec- 

 tive, which coheres laterally in various 

 degrees (2-celled, according t" son 

 filament Blightly adhering i" the ovary. 

 Ovary 1 -celled ; stigma simple, 

 ovule pendulous, orthotropaL Fruit 

 drupaceous, indehiscent Seed pendu- 

 lous ; embryo minute, placed at the 

 apex of fleshy albumen, with the radicle 

 inferior, and consequently remote from 

 the hiluin ; cotyledons divaricate. II.- 

 dyosmum and Ascarina are both oni- 

 sexuaL 



These differ remarkably from Peppers 

 and Saururads,in their naked embrj oand 

 i' ndulous ovule. The want of an amniotic sac (or vi tel- 

 Ins) is so unexpected in plants otherwise so nearly akin 

 to those Orders, that in 'thin^ but the most careful 

 examination would Batisfy the mind of that fact 

 While, however, Chloranths are in other respects 



parabl) connected with tlm-c- Orders, a part of 

 them diner in the very important fad of the flowers 

 being absolutely diclinous. This indicates an affinity 

 to the UrticaJ Alliance. The anthers ol Chloranthus 



consist of a fleshy mass, upon tin- fai 1 which tin- 



cell lies that b( ars the pollen ; whether th< Be ant] 

 are I- or 2-celled, i- a matter of <l< >ul.t ; one Botanist 

 considering those which have 2 cells t" be double 

 anthers, another understanding those with 1 cell t" 



half anthers. Blume describes a calyx in this 

 genus sometimes present in a rudimentary state, 

 adhering to the ovary, and hence !!<■ suspects some 

 affinity between Chloranths and Opercularia. But 

 I am persuaded that ih> such rudiment exists: it i- not repp 



Natives of the hoi parts of India and s..uili America, thi w 



Island-.. 



the whole plant of C. officinalis, and brachystachys, 

 odour, which is gradually dissipated in drying ; but it- r 



phorated smell, and an aromatic, somewhat bitter, flavour. ssosa 



very nearly the properties of Aristolocbia serpentaria, and in as 

 seems u> be no doubt that they are stimulants of the highi -i ord< r 





1 ' 1 fl.V. — Chloranthus monostachys. .i»rs«tio: 



tin- anthi t being removed . :>. a ripe fruit . 1 



