146 



NATURAL HISTORY OF PLANTS. 



assigned elsewhere, here become so variable that we may say they 

 are nearly as often absent as present. The flowers are regular or 

 irregular, with a valvate or imbricated calyx, 1 and with or without a 

 hypogynous or peri gy nous corolla. The stamens are free or in one 

 or more bundles ; the gymeceum is central or excentric. 2 The fruit 

 is dehiscent or indehiscent, containing one or many albuminous or 

 exalbuminous seeds. The leaves are pinnate or bipinnate, stipulate 

 or exstipulate. Some few characters are of altogether exceptional 

 occurrence, such as simple or unifoliolate leaves, 3 indefinite stamens,' 1 

 diclinous flowers, 5 and herbaceous stems. The last character is only 

 found in several Cassias and in some Casalpinias of the section 

 Iloffiii anscggia . 



In 1825, De Candoele knew but thirty-four of the genera now 

 retained in the group Casalpiniea. He inserted three other types, 

 the genera Aloexi/lum, 6 Anoma? and Baryxylum* of Loureiro, which 

 are still ill-known and of most doubtful position ; besides the 

 Dalbergiece, now referred to the sub-order Papilionacea. To the then- 

 known genera E. Brown added Petalostyles in 1S17, and he pub- 



1 In our descriptions we always make it a 

 point to distinguish as far as possible the calyx 

 proper froin the receptacular part of the flower. 

 Thus, while BENTHAM & lloOKKK, following 

 their predecessors, almost always describe a 

 tubular or cupuliforra part of the calyx con- 

 sisting of a single piece and lined by tbe disk, as 

 well as a free part above, often divided down to 

 its base, we consider the former part, usually 

 lined by the disk, as belonging to the receptacular 

 axis. Hence from our view the calyx is far 

 oftener dialysepalous ill < -^>. 



' 2 In this case we do net, like most authors, 

 regard the gynwceiim as adnate to the calyx- 

 tube; but consider that owing to the irreg 

 development of the different parts of the floral 

 receptacle, its organic apex, which corresponds 

 with the insertion of the gynaecenui beo 

 more or less exc ntric, as in most Chrgsobalam ir, 

 being more or less closely approximated to tt.e 

 rim of the cup, sac, or tube represented by the 

 receptacle. Moreover the study of the develop- 

 ment confirms this interpretation. (See Adan- 

 sonia, vi. 187.) 



3 In GHffonia, Cercis, and certain species of 

 Bauhinia, Palovea, and Barldya. 



4 In Camypsiandra, and certain species oi 

 Broumea, Storckiella, and Cynometra. 



5 In Gieditsc/iia, Gymnocladus, Ceratonia, 

 certain species of Bauhinia, Cynometra, and 

 Erythroph laeum. 



6 Lour., Ft. Cochinch., 269.— DC, Prodr., 

 ii. 518.- Em. i... Gen., n. 6786.— B. EL, G 



It: I. II. Ex., in Diet. JSncycl. d, g Sc. Medic, 

 iii. :'>78. This tree is noted, for to it is attri- 

 buted one of the kinds of eagle tvood or lign~ 

 aloes (bois d'aigle) of commerce ("vervm lignum 

 Aloes largiens, Em>l.") ; it is described as 

 having simple alternate leaves, and flowers with 

 four sepal-, five and ten stamens. Its fruit is 

 thus described: " Legumen lignosum hirefal- 

 ctt/inn Ispermutn. Semen oblongum curvum 

 arillalum." This plant it seems cantiol be 

 identified in Cochinchina. Its organization 

 brings it at once near to Copaijera, Cynometra, 

 and CoiinaracecB. 



'• Lour., op. (■■/., !'••' — I'M'i.., Gen., n. 

 6779. " Ab auctore in uno genere cum Mo- 

 ringa inclusa, a DC. (Prodr., ii. 480) pro genere 

 proprio admittitnr. E descriptione tamen ne- 

 quaquam recognoscenda, nisi Casalpiniee ipsa; 

 spi tries, foliis perperam oppositis dictis." (15. IE, 

 Gen.. 4G4.) 



8 Lour., op. cit., 268.— DC, Prodr., ii. 87. 

 — Emu.., Gen., n. 6781a (Cassia). " Est 

 genus valde dubium. Descriptio auctoris pluri- 

 bus notis Cassiam refert. Icon Rumphii dubie 

 citata est Afzelia species. Specimen Loureiria- 

 num, errore quodam sub hoc nomine in h.rb. 

 Mns. Brit, servatum, cum charactere nequaquam 

 eonvenit." ( B. H., Gen., 461.) 



