EXOGEN^E THALAMIFLORJE. 



93 



Sepals 8-4. Petals 6, coriaceous, with a valvular aestivation. 

 Stamens indefinite ; anthers adnate ; filaments angular. 

 Ovaries numerous. Fruit succulent or dry, with the car- 

 pels 1 or many-seeded, separate or consolidated. Embryo 

 minute. Albumen ruminate. 



USES. Aromatic and fragrant in most cases. The fruits 

 of some are succulent and eatable, as the Custard Apple, 

 Anona squamosa, and the Cherimoyer, Anona Cherimolia; 

 those of others are hard, dry, and often jointed, as Habzelia 

 aromatica, the Piper ^Ethiopicum of the shops, and are used as 

 peppers. Some species are employed as febrifuges. 



TYPICAL GENERA. Anona, Uvaria. 



Anona furfuracea. 1. An expanded flower. 2. A vertical section oftheandroe- 

 ceum and gynoaceum, which latter forms a central and terminal tuft. 3. A vertical 

 section of a carpel. 4. A vertical section of a ripe seed, showing the embryo and 

 ruminated albumen. 



3. Menispermacea. Shrubs with a sarmentaceous habit. 

 Leaves alternate. Flowers small. Flowers unisexual, usually 

 very small. Sepals in one or several rows. Stamens mon- 

 adelphous or distinct. Anthers turned outwards. Ovaries 

 numerous, each with one style, sometimes soldered together 

 into a many-celled body, which is occasionally, in conse- 

 quence of abortion, 1-celled. Drupes berried, 1-seeded 

 embryo curved, lying in albumen ; radicle superior. 



