234 XV. CAPPARIDE.E. 



Cadaba), often in multiples of 6 or 8, all fertile, or some sterile (Dactylcena, Cleome, 

 Polanisia, &c.) ; filaments filiform, sometimes thickened at the top (Cleome), free or 

 united to the torus, or connate at the base (Gynandropsis, Cadaba, Boscia, &c.) ; 

 anthers introrse, 2- celled, oblong or ovoid, basi-dorsally fixed, dehiscence longi- 

 tudinal. OVARY usually stipitate, rarely sessile, 1-celled, or sometimes 2-8-celled by 

 false septa springing from the placentas (Morisonia, Capparis, Tovaria, &c.) ; style 

 usually short or 0, simple (3, a,nd hooked in Roydsia} ; stigma usually orbicular, 

 sessile ; ovules numerous, fixed to parietal placentas, campylotropous or semi-anatro- 

 pous, rarely solitary (Apopkylluwi). FRUIT a capsule, siliquose and 2-valved, or a 

 berry, very rarely a drupe (Roydsia). SEEDS reniforin or angular, often sunk in the 

 pulp of the fleshy fruits, exalhuminous, or very rarely albuminous (Tovaria) ; testa 

 smooth, coriaceous or crustaceous. EMBRYO curved or arched ; cotyledons incumbent 

 or accumbent, folded, coiled or induplicate, rarely flat. 



TRIBE I, CLEOME&. 

 Fruit a 1-celled capsule, usually siliquose. Mostly annual herbs. 



PRINCIPAL GENERA. 

 * Cleome. Isomeris. . Tolftnisia. *Gynandropsis. 



TBIBE H. CAPPAREM 

 Fruit a berry or drupe. Shrubs or trees. 



PRINCIPAL GENERA. 



* Morisonia. Mierua. Boscia. lloydsia. Ritchiea. 



Niebuhria. Cadaba. *Capparis. Tovaria. 1 



Capparidefp approach Crucifera; in the number of sepals, petals and .stamens, the {estivation, the 

 ovary with parietal placentation, with or without a false septum, the campylotropous ovulea, eiliquose 

 fruit, exalbuminous seed, curved embryo, and acrid volatile principles. They scarcely differ, except in the 

 sometimes perigynous insertion, the never tetradynamous stamens, the usually stipitate ovary, and the 

 often fleshy fruit. They are equally closely allied to Moringca; (which see). They also resemble Tropatoleee 

 in their habit, exalbuminous seed, and acrid principle. Iteseduceee are separated only by their habit and 

 the structure of their fruit. Capparidere are distributed nearly equally over the tropical and subtropical 

 regions of both hemispheres ; the frutescent species are mostly American. 3 



The herbaceous cnpsular Capparidea rival Cruciferat in their stimulating properties, which depend on 

 an acrid volatile principle. The species with fleshy fruit, which are mostly woody, possess this acridity 

 in their roots, leaves and herbaceous parts ; their bark is bitter, and some have a pleasant fruit. Cleome 

 yigantea is used as a rubefacient in tropical America. The herbage of Gyiumdroptu pentaphylla, a native 

 of the tropics in both worlds, has the qualities of Cochfearia and Lepidiwn, and its oily seed is as acrid as 

 that of Sinapis. Polanisia fcllina and icosandra, natives of India, are epispastics and vermifuges; the 

 fresh juice is used as a condiment. Clcome heptaphylla and polygatna, American plants, have a balsamic 

 odour, whence they have been reputed vulneraries and stomachics. Polanisia grareokns, a native of North 

 America, and a very foetid plant, possesses the same qualities as Chcmipodiinn anthclminthicum. 



Among the Capparidea with fleshy fruit, Cappurin spinosa must rank first. It is a shrub of the 

 Mediterranean region, the bitter, acrid and astringent bark of whose root has been esteemed from 1 1n- 

 most ancient times for its aperient and diuretic qualities. The flower-buds, preserved in salt and vi 



1 Tovaria has been transferred to PajMtwrdrete by Eichlcr. En. 

 - As many are natives of the old world as of the new. EIJ. 



