240 SYSTEMATIC BOTANY. 



ZYGOPHTLLACE.E. BEAN-CAPERS. 

 Series Disciflorae ; CoJi. Geraniales, Hook, et Benth. 



Diagnosis. Herbs, shrubs, or trees with opposite stipulate, mostly 

 imparipinnate, not dotted leaves ; calyx and corolla 4-5-merous, imbri- 

 cated in aestivation ; stamens twice as many, hypogynous, each often at 

 the back of a scale ; ovary surrounded by glands or a toothed disk, more 

 or less deeply 4-5-lobed, 4-5-celled ; fruit capsular ; dehiscence valvular 

 or into cocci ; few-seeded ; perisperm sparing or none. Illustrative Genera: 

 Tribuhis, Tournef. ; Pef/aunm, L, ; Fagonia, Tournef. ; Zygophyllum, L. ; 

 Larrea, Cav. ; Guaiacum, Plum. ; Melianthus, L. (?). 



Affinities, &c. This order is very closely allied to Rutaceae (but differs in 

 habit, the scaly stamens, and dotless leaves) through Peganum, which is 

 placed here chiefly on account of its stipulate, not dotted, opposite leaves. 

 With SimarubacesB it agrees in the attachment of the stamens at the back 

 of a scale, but differs in the short styles. Melianthus is an anomalous genus, 

 which by some authors is taken as the type of a distinct Order supposed 

 to have its nearest relations in Geraniaceae and Sapindaceae. Zygophyllese 

 are closely related to Malpighiacea3, but differ in their glandless calyces, 

 scaly stamens, &c. 



Distribution. The species are not very numerous, and are chiefly found 

 in the warm temperate regions of the globe. Zygophyttum and Tribulus 

 are especially characteristic of dry regions of Egypt, Arabia, and Scinde. 



Qualities and Uses. The so-called gum-resin, Guaiacum, is derived from 

 Gnaiacum officinale, the bark and wood of which are also employed as 

 diaphoretic and sudorific agents ; G. sanctum has similar properties. The 

 leaves of these and of Porliera are used in place of soap for scouring 

 in the West Indies. The remarkably hard wood called Lignum Vitae is 

 derived from Guaiacum officinale or some other species ; all the arborescent 

 plants of this Order have extremely hard wood. The flowers of Zygo- 

 phyllum Fabago are used in the East for pickles, under the name of Bean- 

 capers. The seeds of Peganum Harmala are used as spice in Turkey, and 

 also in the production of the celebrated Turkey-red dye for cotton. Larrca 

 mexicana is known by the name of the Creasote-plant. Zygophyllum 

 simplex has a very bad odour. 



RUTACEJL THE RITE ORDER. 



Series Disciflorae ; Coh. Geraniales, Benth. et Hook. 



Diagnosis. Herbs, shrubs, or trees with simple or compound exstipu- 

 late leaves, dotted with transparent glands containing aromatic or acrid 

 oil ; flowers regular, 3-5-merous ; the stamens equal to or twice as many 

 as the sepals ; the 2-5 pistils separate or combined into a compound ovary 

 with as many cells, sessile or raised on a prolongation of the recep- 

 tacle (gynophore) or glandular disk; style simple, or divided below; 

 fruit with the carpels either coherent or separating and bursting by one 

 or both sutures ; seeds in pairs or solitary ; perisperm present or absent, 

 radicle superior. Illustrative Genera : Galipea, Aubl. ; Ticorea, Aubl. ; 



