THALAMJFLOE^E. 



231 



Fig. 360. 



cious fruits, such as the Chinese Litchi, the Longan and the Rambutan, 

 from species of Nephelium ; and the fruits of Schmidelia edulis (Brazil), 

 Melicocca bijuga (West Indies and Brazil), Pappea capensis, Cupania 

 sapida, Pauilinia subrotunda, Schleichera trijuya, tiapindus esculentus, &c. 

 are all eaten. 



STAPHYLEACEJE, comprising a small number of species, were formerly 

 regarded as related to Celastracese, but are now placed near Sapindacese, 

 from which they differ chiefly in their stipulate, opposite, pinnate leaves, 

 symmetrical flowers, perispermic seeds, and straight embryo. They are 

 of little importance ; the species of titaphylea are scattered all over the 

 world. S. pinnatttj the Bladder-nut, a native shrub, has oily and slightly 

 purgative seeds. 



Fig. 359. 



ACERACE^E (MAPLES), a suborder of 

 Sapinclacese, Benth. et Hook., comprise trees 

 or shrubs with opposite leaves ; regular, uu- 

 symmetrical, polygamous or dioecious, some- 

 times apetalous flowers ; stamens on a fleshy 

 disk (tig. 359) ; ovary 2-lobed, 2-celled, with 

 2 ovules in each cell ; fruit a double samara, 

 with 1 seed in each cell; seeds without 

 perisperm; cotyledons folded, radicle inferior. 

 Illustrative Genera : Acer, L., Neyundo, 

 Mcench. 



Affinities, &c. Nearly related to Sapindaceee, and placed with them by 

 Bentham and Hooker, from which, however, they differ in their opposite 

 leaves and petals without scales ; allied also to Malpighiacese, from which 

 they differ in the absence of glands on the calyx, superior radicle, and 

 other characters. 



Distribution, The group consists of 60 to 70 species, natives of the 

 temperate parts of Europe, Asia, and North America. Traces of them 

 are tirst observable in the Lower Miocene formation. 



Qualities and Uses. Chiefly remarkable for the sap, from which abun- 

 dance of sugar is obtained in spring, especially from A. saccharinum 

 (North America). Their light and handsome timber is also valued for 

 joinery &c. The bark is astringent, and used in dyeing. A. campestre, 

 native Maple, and A. pseudo-plar,anus, the Sycamore, are common trees 

 in Britain. A. Neyundo and various other kinds of Maple have been intro- 

 duced from North America on account of their beauty as ornamental 

 trees, especially iu autumn. 



Embryo of Acer 



extracted from 



the seed. 



POLYGALACEJE. MILK-WORTS. 

 Coh. Polygalineae, fienth. et Hook. 



Diagnosis. Herbs or shrubs with alternate, exstipulate, sim- 

 ple leaves ; irregular hermaphrodite flowers ; 4-8 diadelphous or 



