298 XLII. HUMIRIACE^J. 



axillary inflorescence ; but Cnestis differs in its polygamo-dioecious flowers, valvate calyx, free filaments, 

 distinct carpels, and non-arillate seeds. Qxalideee are distantly related to Droseracea in their spirally 

 coiled young leaves, their hypogynism, and diplostemonous flowers (at least in Dionaa and Drotophyttum), 

 pendulous anatropous ovules, capsular fruit, albuminous seed, and axile embryo. Finally, a certain 

 analogy has been noticed between O.ralis and Mimoseee (see this family). 



The species of Oxalis inhabit both worlds, especially abounding in South Africa and tropical and 

 subtropical America ; they are rare in temperate regions, and are entirely absent from very cold coun- 

 tries. Averrhoa and Connaropsis are tropical Asiatic. 



Oxalideat contain in their herbaceous parts and fruit, when it is fleshy, an acid salt, tempered by a 

 sufficient quantity of mucilage, which gives them refreshing, antibilious, and antiseptic properties. The 

 tubers of the stemless species are farinaceous and eatable. Sorrel (Oxalis acetosella), a European and 

 North American herb, together with Ilumcx acetosa and acctoscUn, yields binoxalate of potash, com- 

 monly called o.valic acid, a deadly poison, but used for the removal of ink-stains, &c. Many American 

 species of O.ralis possess in their underground stem a feculent, wholesome, light, and very nourishing sub- 

 stance, the slightly acid taste of which almost entirely disappears in cooking ; these occur as tubers like 

 potatos (O. creiirita), or bulbs (O. esctdcnta), or as swollen and fleshy roots (O. Dej>pei). The slightly 

 bitter leaves of O. sensitiva are tonic and stimulating; its root is recommended for calculous diseases 

 find scorpion-bites. The berries of Averrhoa Carambola, an Indian tree, are very acid in a wild state, 

 but cultivation renders them sugary-acidulous and eatable. Those of A. Bilimbi are more tart than the 

 preceding, and are only eatable when cooked and mixed with other condiments. The leaves of both 

 these species are used to hasten the ripening of tumours. 



XLII. HUMIRIACE^E? Jussieu, 



[TREES or SHRUBS, mostly with balsamic juice, glabrous or puberulous. LEAVES 

 alternate, simple, coriaceous, entire or crenulate ; stipules 0. FLOWERS regular, $j , 

 white, in corymbiform, axillary, terminal, or lateral cymes. SEPALS 5, small, sub- 

 connate at the base, imbricate in bud. PETALS 5, hypogynous, deciduous, slightly 

 contorted. STAMENS lO-oo , hypogynous, more or less connate at the base ; filaments 

 flattened or filiform, tips slender ; anthers versatile, cells 2, adnate to the base of a 

 thick fleshy connective. DISK annular, truncate, toothed or of separate scales, 

 closely girding the base of the ovary. OVARY free, sessile, 5- rarely 6-7-celled ; 

 style simple, filiform ; stigma entire or obscurely toothed ; ovules solitary in the cells, 

 or 2-3 suspended by unequal funicles from the top of the inner angle of the cell, 

 anatropous, raphe ventral. FRUIT a drupe ; endocarp bony or woody, cells usually 

 in part suppressed. SEEDS solitary, or geminate and then separated by a transverse 

 septum, oblong, pendulous ; testa membranous; albumen copious, fleshy. EMBRYO 

 axile ; cotyledons short, obtuse ; radicle usually elongate, superior. 



PRINCIPAL GENERA. 

 Vantanea. Ilumiria. Sacoglottis. Aubrya. 



A small order, formerly associated with Ebcnncea; or Ol&inea ; but differing from the latter in aesti- 

 vation, ovary, ovules, etc., and from Ebenacea in polypetalism, hypogyny, &c. They appear to be 

 more closely allied to the tribe I.riotianthca? of Linea, from which their habit and anthers distinguish 

 them. From the 1-2-ovuled genera of Meliaceai they are distinguished by their stamens, simple 

 leaves, &c. 



1 This order is omitted in the criginal. ED. 



