I 1_' NATURAL HISTORY OF PLANTS. 



which it would perhaps be better to associate it. 1 The separation of 

 Rutacea and Burseracea is quite artificial, and partly conventional. 

 If the latter had not a resinous, balsamic sac, we could not distin- 

 guish them. It is also added, that the stamens are often inserted 

 upon the disk, that they are never accompanied by scaly appen- 

 dages nor hairs ; but these characters are far from being absolute 

 among the Picramnia, which are not always bitter; this is why 

 types like Irvingia, Spathelia, &c, may be equally well ascribed to 

 either group. It is said, on the other side, that the Burserea differ 

 from the Toddaliece by their exalbuminous embiwo, diplostemonous 

 androceum, and leaves destitute of glandular punctures ; and from 

 Auraniiea by their style not articulate at the base, and their dru- 

 paceous fruit. But Teclea, nearly allied to Toddalla (to which it has 

 even been ascribed), has seeds without any trace of albumen. 

 Balanites, Tariri, Picrodendron, are also destitute of it; and in the 

 genus Irvingia there is a species with an albuminous seed, and 

 another' with seed without perisperm. Many Rutacea of the Quassia 

 series have neither hairs nor scales to the stamens ; and in the 

 genus Limonia, of the Aurantiece series, we have plants with the 

 style articulate at the base, and others (Glycosmis) where it is not 

 so. We know, moreover, that there are true Burserea with punc- 

 tuate leaves. This latter character is found in certain Meliacea, also 

 nearly allied to Rutacea?, 2 and especially to the Aurantiea series ; but 

 it is easy to distinguish practically, those Meliacea having mona- 

 delphous filaments united into a long tube. No hesitation would be 

 possible except for the Cedrelea, distinguished by their ovules, 

 always numerous, succeeded by compressed seeds, and by their cap- 

 sular fruit, septifragal or loculicidal, with valves separating from a 

 central columella. 



The properties 3 of the Rutacea differ according as they are bitter 

 or glandular-punctuate. In the latter case, they are generally 

 fragrant, stimulant, and sometimes even dangerous to some degree. 

 This is decidedly the case in the Rues themselves, and principally 



1 Quillaja, belonging to Rosacea, lias been differt prsecipne tubo stamineo crasso foliisquc 



ascribed to Rutacea, under the name of Ton- rarissime punctatis." 

 tenellea A. S. H. (vol. i. 4G0). 3 Ekdl., Enchirid., 547, 606.— Gcib., D,-og. 



- Bentham & Hookeb (Gen., 328) say of Simpl, ed. 6, iii. 541. — Lindl., M. Med., 207. 



Meliacea}: "Ordo Rutaceis proximo attinis, — Ducii., Rep., 221. — Rosenth., Sgn. I J l. 



quibus per Flindersiam transitu* facilia est; Diaphor., 755, 860, 884, 1157. 



