652 



SALVADORACE.E. 



[Pekigynous Exogens. 



OkoER CCL. SALVADORACE.E — Salvadorads. 



Salvadoracese, Ed. pr. No. cxcix. (1836) ; Endl. Gen. p. 349. 



Diagnosis.— Echial Exogens, with regular symmetrical flowers, a solitary fruit, and 



naked stigma. 



Small trees or shrubs, with the stem slightly tumid at the articulations. Leaves op- 

 posite, leathery, entire, very obscurely 

 veined. Flowers minute, in loose panicles. 

 Calyx inferior, 4-leaved, minute. Corolla 

 membranous, monopetalous, 4-parted. Sta- 

 mens 4, connecting the petals into a mono- 

 petalous corolla ; anthers round, 2-celled, 

 bursting longitudinally. Ovary superior, 1- 

 celled, with a single sessile stigma ; ovule 

 solitary, erect. Pericarp berried ; 1 -celled, 

 indehiscent. Seed solitary, erect. Embryo 

 amygdaloid, without albumen ; cotyledons 

 fleshy, plano-convex, fixed a little below their 

 middle to a long axis, the radicle of which 

 is inclosed within then" bases. 



By one author referred to Chenopods or 

 Amarantbs, notwithstanding its monopeta- 

 lous corolla and embryo ; by another to 

 Ardisiads, notwithstanding the position of 

 its stamens and the structure of ovary and 

 seeds. This plant appears to be in reality the 

 type of a quite distinct Order, the true rela- 

 tion of which I formerly supposed to be with 

 Leadworts and Plantains. With the latter 

 it agrees in the number of the parts of its 

 flower, its membranous corolla, and simple 

 style ; with the former more in habit, and 

 especially in the leaves, which are much like 

 those of a Statice. It, however, differs es- 

 sentially in its polysepalous calyx, amygda- 

 loid embryo, opposite leaves, and berried 

 pericarp. In habit it agrees with Galenia, and this has probably been the cause of its 

 having found its way to Chenopods. It seems however possible, upon the whole, that 

 it should be considered an ally of Ehretiads or Verbenes, having but one carpel and 

 symmetrical tetrandrous flowers. 



The species are found in India, Syria, and North Africa. 



Salvadora persica, the Mustard-tree of Scripture, as has been demonstrated by 

 Dr. Royle, has a succulent fruit which has a strong aromatic smell, and tastes like Garden- 

 cress. The bark of the root is remarkably acrid ; bruised and applied to the skin it 

 soon raises blisters, for which the natives of India often use it. As a stimulant it pro- 

 mises to be a medicine of considerable power. The leaves of S. indica are purgative ; 

 the fruit is said to be eatable. 



M Planchon, who has reconsidered this Order (Ann. Sc, 3 ser. X. 191), thinks it 

 allied to Oleads, through Bouea, which probably belongs here rather than to Anacards 

 (see p. 467). He supposes the following genera to be referable to this place : — 



Fig. CCCCXXXVI. 



GENERA. 



Salvadora, X. 

 Mouetia, L'Her. 



Azima, Lam. 



Acttgeton, Bl. 



Dobera, Jilts. 



Tomex, Forsk. 

 Scltizocalyx, Hoclist. 

 Bouea, Meisner. 



Carnbessedea, Wight. 



Numbers. Gen. 4. Sp. 



Plumbaginacece ? 

 Position. — Ehretiaces. — Salyadorace^e. — "Verbenacepe. 



Oleacece ? 



Fig. CCCCXXXVI.— Salvadora persica. 1. flower ; 2. a section of its fruit. 



