628 CLXXVIII. PHYTOLACCEJ3. 



Nyctaginece are not closely allied to any other family ; they have been placed near Pkytolaccea, 

 Chenopodiea;, and Polygonece on account of the structure of their ovary, their curved seed and albumen ; 

 but they differ in their folded Eestivation and exstipulate leaves. They have an apparent affinity with 

 Valeriancee (as observed by A.-L. de Jussieu), through Boerhaavia, several species of which have been 

 often confounded with that family. 



Nyctaginea principally inhabit the tropical regions of the Old, and especially the New World. 

 Abronia grows in North-west America, some Soerhaaviee in extra-tropical Australia, and in South America. 

 Buginvillea is limited to South America. 



The roots of Nyctaginea; are purgative or emetic. That of the false Jalap, or Marvel of Peru (Mira- 

 bilis Jalnpa), a tropical American plant, was long confounded with that of the true Jalap, of which it has 

 the nauseous smell. It possesses similar qualities, but is much less efficacious, and is sometimes 

 administered for dropsy, as are M. dichotoma and lonyiflora ; all are cultivated in our gardens. M. 

 sttaveolen* is recommended in Mexico for diarrhoea and rheumatic pains. The numerous species of 

 Bcerhaavia furnish the Americans with emetic and purgative roots. The juice of B. hirsuta is used in 

 Brazil as a remedy for jaundice. The cooked root of B. tuberosn is eaten in Peru ; an infusion of it is 

 ranked as an antisyphilitic. A decoction of the herbage of B. procumbent is an Indian febrifuge. The 

 properties of Pisonia are analogous to those of Boerhaavia. 



CLXXVIII. PIIYTOLACCE^E. 



(ATRIPLICUM sectio, Jussieu. PHYTOLACCE^E, Br. RIVINE^E ET PETIVERE.E, Agardh. 

 PHYTOLACCACE^E ET PETIVERIACE^E, LindL PHYTOLACCACE^E, EndL) 



CALYX 4-5-partite. COROLLA usually 0. STAMENS sub-hypogynous or hypogy- 

 nous, as many as the sepals, or more numerous. CARPELS several, whorled, or one ex- 

 centric, l-ovuled', STYLES lateral and ventral, hooked. FRUIT fleshy or dry. SEED erect. 

 ALBUMEN farinaceous, sometimes scanty or 0. EMBRYO annular or curved, rarely straight ; 

 RADICLE inferior. 



HERBS or UNDERSHRUBS [rarely TREES], usually glabrous. STEMS cylindric, or 

 irregularly annular, rarely twining (Ercilla). LEAVES alternate or rarely sub-oppo- 

 site, simple, entire, membranous or somewhat fleshy, sometimes pellucid-punctate ; 

 stipules 0, or geminate at the base of the petioles, free, deciduous, or changed into 

 persistent thorns. FLOWERS $ or rarely dioacious (Achatocarpus, Gyrostemon), 

 regular or sub-regular, in a spike, raceme, or glomerate cyme, axillary, terminal or 

 leaf-opposed, pedicels naked or 1-3-bracteate, CALYX 4-5-partite ; lobes herbaceous, 

 often membranous at the edge, frequently coloured on their inner surface, equal or 

 unequal, SGstivation imbricate. COROLLA usually 0, rarely of 4-5 petals (Semonvillea, 

 &c.) alternate with the sepals and inserted at their base, distinct, with narrow 

 claws. STAMENS sub-hypogynous or hypogynous, inserted at the base of a disk 

 lining the bottom of the calyx, or of a somewhat convex torus, or sometimes of a 

 slender gynophore ; either equal and alternate with the sepals, or more numerous, 

 the outer alternate, the inner opposite ; rarely united in alternate bundles ; more 

 rarely indefinite and arranged without order ; filaments filiform or dilated at the 

 base, distinct, or connate below ; anthers introrse, 2-celled, basifixed or dorsifixed, 

 erect or incumbent, dehiscence longitudinal. CARPELS several whorled, rarely 



