LVI. OCHNACE^. 329 



naturally connect the genera of Simurubeee, and clearly distinguish them from the above-named families. 

 The affinity is less close with Zygophyttea (see this family). They appear somewhat nearer to Ochnacea 

 (which see). 



Simanibea mostly grow in the torrid zone. Quassia, Simaba, Simaruba, Castela, Picramnia, &c., belong 

 to tropical America ; Hannon, Samadera, Brucea, Balanites, to tropical Africa; the three latter also inhabit 

 Asia, as well as Picrasma and Ailantus. Suriana is found on sea-coasts throughout the intertropical zone. 

 Soulamea, Eurycoma, and Harrisonia, are natives of the Malayan Archipelago aud Pacific Islands ; the latter 

 also grows in Australia, as does Cadellia. Cneorum inhabits the Mediterranean region and the Canaries. 



Many plants belonging to the genera of the first tribe (Quassia, Simaba, Simaruba) contain a peculiar 

 principle, extremely bitter, in combination with salts, a resinous matter, and a small quantity of volatile 

 oil, which gives them tonic properties, and renders them very digestive. Quassia amara occupies the 

 first rank amongst bitter medicines. The bark of the root and trunk of Simaruba guianemis and amara 

 yields the Simaruba of the druggist, the virtues of which rival those of Quassia. S. versicolor is much 

 renowned among the Brazilians, who apply a decoction of its bark and leaves to snake-bites and syphilitic 

 exanthema. The Simabas of Guiana and Brazil, and the Samadei-as of India, are also extremely bitter, and 

 possess similar properties. The inner bark of Brucea antidysenterica, an Abyssinian shrub, is regarded as 

 an admirable medicine in cases of dysentery and obstinate intermittent fevers. B. sumatrana, which 

 grows in the Moluccas and India, possesses the same properties. Ailantus glanduhsa, a native of 

 China, and naturalized in the temperate parts of Europe, is commonly called Japan varnish, a name 

 which perpetuates an error (see Terebinthacea, p. 363). \JBalanites <sgyptiaca, a spinous shrub of Syria, 

 Arabia, and North Africa, bears drupes which are acrid, bitter and purgative when young, but edible 

 when oid. Its seeds yield a fatty oil, the zachun of the Arabs. ED.] 



LVI. OCHNACE^E, D.C. 



, D.C. Planchon, Benth. et Hook, fit.} 



SEPALS 4--5. PETALS as many or twice as many. STAMENS double or multiple 

 the number of the petals ; anthers dehiscing at the top. CARPELS 45 or more, united at 

 the base by the gynobasic style, \-ovuled. FRUIT fleshy . ALBUMEN scanty or 0. STEM 

 woody. LEAVES alternate, stipulate. 



SHRUBS or TREES with watery juice. LEAVES alternate, stipulate, glabrous, 

 simple, or very rarely pinnate (Godoya), coriaceous, shining, often toothed, margin 

 sometimes thickened, midrib strong, the lateral nerves close, parallel. FLOWERS ? ? 

 usually panicled, rarely axillary and solitary, or fascicled. SEPALS 45, free;, imbri- 

 cate, very often scarious, concave and striate. PETALS hypogynous, 5, rarely 3-4 or 

 10 (Ochna), free, longer than the calyx, deciduous, spreading, aestivation imbricate or 

 contorted. DISK elongating after flowering, never annular nor glandular, often 

 inconspicuous or ; staminodes 1-3-seriate, accompanying the stamens in some 

 genera (Wallacea, Pcecilandra, Blastemanthus) . STAMENS inserted at the base or 

 top of the torus, 4-5 or 8 or 10 or oo, erect, equal or unequal, unilateral or 

 declinate ; filaments free, short, persistent ; anthers linear-elongate, basifixed, cells 

 straight or flexuous, usually opening by terminal pores. OVARY central or excentric, 

 short and deeply 2-10-lobed, or elongated and 2-10-celled, rarely 1 -celled, with 3 

 parietal placentas (Wallacea) ; style central, gynobasic, simple, subulate, sharp, 

 straight or curved, rarely divided in as many branches as carpels (Ochna) ; stigma 



