360 LXXIII. TEREBINTHACE^. 



top usually deflexed, compressed and renifonn in Sabia ; endocarp crustaceous or 

 bony, 1-seeded. SEEDS compressed or sub-globose, adnate by a broad hilum to the 

 base of the cell ; testa membranous or coriaceous ; albumen 0, or a thin layer adnate 

 to the testa. EMBRYO with thick rugose or membranous contorted cotyledons, and 

 an inferior curved radicle pointing upwards to the hilum. 



GENERA. 

 Sabia. Meliosiua. Phoxanthus. Ophiocaryon. 



A small but well-defined order of four genera and about thirty-two species, differing from its allies 

 in the isomeroua stamens opposite the petals. It is related to Terebinthaceee and Sapindacea, but differs 

 from both not only in the above character, but from TerMntkaeeee in the always few stamens, anthers, fila- 

 ments, two-ovuled ovarian cells, and deflexed carpels ; and from Sapindacea-. in the short stamens, never 

 eight in number, which are not decimate. Sabia is very remarkable for the opposition of its bracts, sepals, 

 petals, stamens, and ovarian carpels, which is perhaps unique in the Vegetable Kingdom. Its fruit and 

 certain other characters have caused authors to assign it to Mcnispermace<e, with which it has nothing 

 whatever in common. 



tiabiacete are for the most part tropical Indian, but Sabitt is Himalayan also. Meliosma is common 

 to Asia and America; Phoxant/iiu and Op/nocarytm, monotypic genera, lire from North Brazil aad 

 Guiana. 



The wood of the Indian Meliosma is of excellent quality, and in considerable demand for house- 

 building. The singular embryo of Ophiocaryon, resembling a snake coiled up inside the nut, gives the 

 name of Snake-nut to the fruit. ED.] 



LXXIII. TEREBINTHACEjE. 



(ANACARDIE.E, Br. TEREBINTHACE^E, Kunth. ANACARDIACE^E, Lindl.) 



FLOWERS very often diclinous. PETALS inserted on an annular disk, equal in 

 number to the calyx-lobes, sometimes 0. STAMENS equal or double the number of the 

 petals. OVARY generally solitary, l-celled, \-ovuled. OVULE suspended from a basilar 

 or lateral funicle. FRUIT usually a drupe. EMBRYO cxalbuminous. STEM woody. 

 LEAVES exstipulate. 



TREES, large or small, with gummy or milky-resinous juice, often poisonous. 

 LEAVES alternate, or veiy rarely opposite (Bouea), simple, 3-foliolate or impari- 

 pinnate, exstipulate. FLOWERS $ , or polygamo-dioecious, or monoecious, regular, 

 small, axillary or terminal, fascicled, spiked or panicled. CALYX 3-5-fid or -partite, 

 often persistent, sometimes accrescent (Loxoatylis). PETALS equal in number to the 

 calyx-lobes, inserted at the base or top of an annular disk, aestivation usually imbri- 

 cate, sometimes accrescent (Melanorrhcea), or (Pistacia). STAMENS inserted with 

 the petals, or double in number, very rarely more (Melanorrhcea), and then some 

 imperfect ; filaments subulate or filiform ; anthers very often versatile, introrse, dehi- 

 scence longitudinal. OVARY 1 -celled (Anacardiece), or 2-5-celled (Spondiece), or very 

 rarely of 5-6 distinct carpels, of which all but one are sterile, or reduced to the style 

 (Buchanania) ; style simple, terminal or sublateral, sometimes several by the sup- 



