396 LXXIX. BKEXIACE^]. 



cyme. CALYX superior, 4-10-partite, valvate in eestivation, persistent. PETALS 4- 

 5-7-10, inserted under an annular disk crowning the ovary and lining the calyx, 

 alternate with its segments, aestivation induplicate or contorted. STAMENS double 

 or a multiple of the number of the petals, inserted with them, 1-2-seriate ; filaments 

 filiform or compressed ; anthers introrse, 2-celled, ovoid or sub-globos'e, didymous, 

 dehiscence longitudinal. OVARY inferior or semi-inferior, of 3 -410 cells ; styles as 

 many as the cells, distinct or more or less coherent ; stigmas free or connate ; ovules 

 numerous, ascending or pendulous, imbricate on projecting central placentas. 

 CAPSULE 3-10-celled, dehiscing at the top loculicidally or septicidally, or rupturing 

 longitudinally along the sides of the receptacular tube. SEEDS with a membranous 

 reticulate loose and ample testa. EMBRYO straight, axile, as long as the copious 

 fleshy albumen ; cotyledons short, semi-cylindric or oval ; radicle long, next the 

 hilum, superior or inferior. 



PRINCIPAL GENERA. 

 * Philadelphia. * Decuniaria. * Deutzia. 



Fhiladelphefe approach Saxifiagea, tribe Hydrangea, in the epigyriy, aestivation, and diplostemony of 

 the corolla, the many-ovuled cells of the ovary, distinct styles, capsular fruit, straight albuminous axile 

 embryo, woody stem and opposite leaves. They have some affinities with Onagrarieee, founded on the 

 insertion and aestivation of the petals, the numerous pendulous or ascending ovules, and the loculicidal or 

 septicidal capsule ; but Onagrariea; differ in the structure of the testa, and in being exalbuminous. 



PhUndelphece inhabit South Europe, Upper India and Japan, but are nowhere numerous. 



The very strongly scented flowers of the Syringa (Philadelphm coronarius), formerly employed as a 

 tonic, have fallen into disuse. The rough leaves of Deutzia scabra are used in Japan to polish wood. 



LXXIX. RREXIACE^, Endlicher. 



TREES or SHRUBS. LEAVES alternate, sub-coriaceous, entire or spinous-toothed, 

 exstipulate. FLOWERS in axillary and terminal umbels. CALYX 5-fid, persistent, 

 eestivation imbricate. PETALS 5, shortly clawed, inserted on the edge of an annular 

 disk, perigynous, Bestivation contorted (Brexia) or imbricate (Ixerba). STAMENS 

 alternate, accompanied by palmate scales which are opposite to the petals, and con- 

 nect the bases of the subulate filaments ; anthers introrse, 2-celled, dehiscence longi- 

 tudinal. OVARY free, of 5 many-ovuled cells ; style short ; stigma 5-lobed ; ovules 

 2-seriate, horizontal, anatropous. FRUIT a 5-sided drupe with papillose epicarp and 

 bony endocarp, or a loculicidal capsule (Ixerba). SEEDS horizontal, shortly funicled, 

 ovoid-angular, shining ; testa membranous. EMBRYO [almost] exalbuminous, straight; 

 cotyledons obtuse ; radicle cylindric. 



This little group is composed of the genera Brexia, Ixerba and Argophylhtm ; ' Brexia inhabits 

 Madagascar, Ixerba Australia, and ArgopJiyllum New Caledonia. Endlicher places Brexiacca after 

 Saxifrages, as being near the tribe Escalloniece ; in both, in fact, the stem is woody, the leaves alternate, 



1 Argophyllum differs notably in the valvate calyx, copious albumen and minute embryo. ED. 



