CAPPARIDACECE. 



L67 



with its peculiar properties. "We shall see that Resedacece, which 

 A. L. de Jussieu included in the genera affinia of this order, are 

 separable therefrom by no absolute character. Through Cleomece, 

 especially the types with a dry siliquiform dicarpellary fruit, and a 

 hexandrous androceum, we are brought so near Cruciferce that the 

 only absolute distinction lies in the habit, and the false septum in 

 the fruit of the latter. True, there are other differential characters, 

 but they are inconstant: the organization of the leaves in Capparidacece, 

 the frequent asymmetry of the flowers, 1 the number of stamens, the 

 long support of the fruit, and the direction of the ovules. Other 

 secondary affinities must be noted. Such doubtful Capparidacece as 

 Rqpalocarptts have been referred to Tiliacece. This closely linking of 

 this order to Pixacece through Prockia enables us to see why Aphloia 

 has been placed among Capparidacece, because of the form of the 

 embryo. Moringc? shows close analogies with Leguminosce, differing 

 essentially only in the number of its parietal placentas ; and Cordyla, 

 which belongs to the Leguminose series Tounalece or Sivarfziece, was 

 formerly placed in Capparidacece? and is only really distinguished 

 therefrom by its single placenta. 



Differences in properties 4 answer to the differences in histology 

 between this order and Papaveracea. Its properties are on the whole 

 very nearly those of Resedacece and Cruciferce, the vegetative organs 

 usually containing acrid or stimulant, antiscorbutic juices, and the 

 seeds an oily substance. The European Caper-plants are well-known 

 for the use made of their flower-buds (more rarely the young fruit) 

 as a stimulant aperient digestive condiment. Our Capers are the 

 pickled buds of C. spinosa h (figs. 174-179); but those of C. oegyptia* 



1 Eichi., Fxc. Morph., in Mart. Fl. Bras., 

 Cappar., 338, t. 68. 



2 See Adaasonia, vs.. 335, for the enumeration 

 of the different groups to which Moringa has 

 been referred, even bringing it near Monopetal(e, 

 such as Bignoniacece. Agaedh (pp. cit., 211) 

 says of Moringece : — " Capparideis collaterals 

 aut paulo superiores, floribus 5-meris subsym- 

 metricis et staminibus perigyuis ad Leguminosas 

 transeuntes." 



Fl. Seneg. Tent., i. 30, t. 9. 



4 Endl., Fnchirid., 457. — Lindl., Teg. 

 Kingd., 358; Fl. Med., 94. — Rosenth., Syn. 

 PL Diaph., 646. 



5 L., Spec, 720. — Blackw., Herb., t. 417. — 

 DC, Prodr., i. 245, n. 4. — GtJiB., Drog. Simpl., 

 ed. 6, hi, 671. — Lindl., Fl, Med., 94 —A. Rich., 

 Flem., ed. 4, ii. 380, t. 80. — Rosenxh., op. cit., 

 648 (see above p. 149, note 2). 



6 Lame., Diet., i. 605. — Del., Fl. Mgypt., 

 93, t. 31, fig. 3.— DC, Prodr., n. 7. 



