AlTRAN'TIACEvE. 



GSS 



\uuANTiACF..T., CoiTea. Some of the genera 

 of aurantia of Jussieii, Very smooth, some- 

 times spinous trees or shruhs, l)caring; alternate 

 and articulated leaves, which are simple, or 

 more frequently pinnate, and furnished with 

 vesicular glands, filled with a transparent vola- 

 tile oil. The flowers are fragrant, and generally 

 terminal. The calyx is monosepalous, persis- 

 tent, with three or five more or less deep divi- 

 sions. The corolla is of from three to five 

 sessile petals, which are free or slightly united. 

 The stamina, sometimes of the same numher as 

 the petals, or double that number, or a multiple 

 of it, are free, or variously united by their fila- 

 ments, and are attached beneath to a hypogynous 

 disk, on which the ovary is applied. The ovary 

 is globular, with several cells containing a single 

 suspended ovule, or several ovules attached to 

 the inner angle of the cell. The style, which is 

 sometimes very short and thick, is alwaj's sim- 

 ple, and terminated by a simple or lobed discoid 

 stigma. The fruit is generally fleshy internally, 

 separated into several cells by verj'tliinmembran- 

 ous dissepiments, containing one or more seeds 

 inserted at their inner angle, and generally 

 pendant. Externally, the jjcricarp is thick and 

 indehiscent, studded with vesicles filled with 

 volatile oil. The seeds contain one, sometimes 

 two embryos, without endosperm. 



The genera of which this family is composed 

 are especially distinguished by their articulate, 

 often compound leaves, furnished with vesicular 

 glands, which exist also in the substance of their 

 petals and pericarp, by their simple style, and 

 the absence of endosperm in the seeds, as citrus, 

 limonia, mnrraya, Ike. 



The orange, the lemon, the citron, and the 

 lime, are the fruits of different species of citrus. 



Ampelide^e, Rich. ( Fites, Jussieu), Shrubs 

 or small trees, which are twining, sarmenta- 

 ceous, and furnished with tendrils opposite 

 to the leaves, which are alternate, pctiolafe, 

 simple or digitate, with two stipules at their 

 base. The flowers are disposed in racemes, 

 which are opposite to the leaves. The calyx 

 is very short, often entire and nearly flat. 

 The corolla is of five petals, which are some- 

 times coherent at their upper part, and rise all 

 together in the form of a hood. The stamina, 

 five in number, are erect, free, and opposite to 

 the petals. The ovary is applied upon a hj-po- 

 gynous annular disk, lobed at its circumference. 

 It has always two cells, each containing two 

 erect ovules. The style, which is thick and 

 very short, is terminated by a stigma which is 

 slightly two-lobed. The fruit is a globular 

 berry, containing from one to four erect seeds, 

 having their episperm thick, their endosperm 

 horny, and containing near their base a very 

 small erect embryo. 



This little family is composed of the genera 



viiis, cissus, and ampelopsis. The gi-ape vine, 

 vitis vinifcra, is the most important of this 

 family. 



Hii'PocRATicE.E, (Jussieu, hippocrateacetp, 

 Kunth, De CandoUe). Shrubs or small trees, 

 j generally glabrous and sarmentaeeous, bearing 

 ; opposite, simple, coriaceous, entire or toothed 

 leaves, and small, axillar, fasciculate or corym- 

 bose flowers. The calyx is persistent, with five 

 divisions. The corolla is composed of five equal 

 petals. The stamina are genei-ally three in num- 

 ber, rarely four or five, having their filaments 

 united at the base, and forming a tubular andro- 

 pliorum. The ovary is trigonal, with three 

 cells, each containing four ovules attached to 

 their inner angle. The style is simple, ter- 

 minated by one or three stigmas. The fruit is 

 sometimes capsular, with three membranous 

 angles, sometimes fleshy; each cell generally 

 contains four seeds. The seed has an erect 

 embryo, without endosperm. 



This family, which is composed of the genera 

 hippocratca, anthodon, raddisia, salacia, &c., is 

 allied to the acerines and malpighiacea;. Very 

 little is known of their properties. 



AcERiXE^, De Candolle. This family is 

 composed of the genus acer alone, and presents 

 the following characters : flowers hermaphrodite, 

 or unisexual. Calyx with five more or less deep 

 divisions, or entire. Corolla of five petals. Sta- 

 mina double the number of the petals, inserted 

 upon a hypogynous disk, which occupies the 

 whole bottom of the flower. Ovary didymous 

 and compressed, with two cells, each containing 

 two ovules, attached at its inner angle. Stylo 

 simple, sometimes very short, terminated by 

 two subulate stigmas. The fruit consists of two 

 indehiscent samaras, which are each prolonged 

 into a wing on one side. The seeds present a 

 spirally twisted embryo beneath their proper 

 integument. 



This family contains several valuable timber 

 trees. Sugar is obtained from the juice of 

 several American species of the maple. 



Malpiohiace^, Jussieu. Trees or shrubs, with 

 opposite, simple, or compound leaves, often furn- 

 ished with napifonn hairs, and frequently accom- 

 panied at theii- base with two stipules. Flowers 

 yellow or white, forming racemes, corymbs, or 

 sertules, which are axillar or terminal. The pedi- 

 cels which support the flowers are often articulated 

 and furnished with two small bracteas near their 

 middle. The calyx is monosepalous, often per- 

 sistent, with four or five deep divisions. The co- 

 rolla, which is sometimes wanting, is composed 

 of five petals with long claws. The stamina, 

 six in number, seldom fewer, are free or slightly 

 imited at the base. The pistil i* sometimes 

 simple, sometimes formed of three carpels, more 

 or less united. Each carpel or cell contains 

 either a single ovule suspended at the upper part 

 4l 



