G74 



CRESCENTIACEjE. 



[Perigynous Exogens. 



and particularly in habit. The same observations apply to Pedahaceae, which are also 

 1 -celled; for although the ripe fruit of both them and Cyrtandraceoe possesses apparently 

 more than one cell, as if produced by the spreading and dividing of their parietal pla- 

 centae, the ovary of both, according to Bentham, is always unilocular if examined 

 before the development occasioned by fecundation. 



" To all the other Orders of the dicarpose group, Cre~centia is of course more or less 

 related, but is abundantly distinct from every one. Thus, it is distinguished from Acan- 

 thacese by its simple calyx, 1 -celled ovary, unsuspended seeds, and in habit ; fromLen- 

 tibulariese by its parietal, not free central placentation ; and from Scrophulariaceoe and 

 Solanacese and their allies by its want of albumen." — Hooker's Journ. 2. 424. 



Inhabitants of the tropics of Asia, Africa, and America, but most especially abundant 

 in the Mauritius and Madagascar. 



The principal plant of this Order is the Calabash tree, Crescentia Cujete, a tree 

 inhabiting the tropical parts of America, and bearing a great gourd-like fruit, filled with 

 a sub-acid pulp which is eaten by the Negroes, and from which poultices are also pre- 

 pared ; its hard shell is used for holding fluids, in the room of bottles. The pulp of 

 Tanaecium Jarowa is applied to the same purposes. Parmentiera edulis has fruit like 

 a Cucumber, and affords food to the Mexicans.— DO. That of P. cerifera more 

 resembles a long candle, whence it is called Palo de Yelas, or Candle-tree, in Panama, 

 and is greedily eaten by cattle. — Seemann. 



GENERA. 



Crescentia, L. 



Cujete, Plum. 

 Kigelia, DC. 

 Tnpinnaria, Pits. 



Tripinna, Lour. 

 Sotor. Fenzl. 

 Schlegelia. Miq. 

 I Parmentiera, DC. 



Tanoecium, .Sir: 



fjaroba, Marcgr. 

 Schlegelia. Miq. 

 Colea, Bojcr. 



Numbers. Gen. 11. Sp. 34. 



Periblema, DC. 

 Boutonia, J>C. 



Phyllaithron, DC. 



ArthrophyUnm, lioj. 

 Schlegelia, Miq. 



Solanacece ? 

 Position.— Gesneracepe. -Crescentiace.e. — Bignoniaceae. 



Fig. CCCCLIV. 



Fisr. CCCCLIV.- Crescentia cucurbit, na. 



