100 NATURAL HISTORY OF PLANTS. 



I. Salvertieje. — Ovary free, plurilocular. Cells contaiuing two de- 

 scendeut ovules, Avith superior and exterior micropyle. Oue single 

 fertile stamen.^ Fruit capsular with winged seeds. Embiyo ex- 

 alburaiuous, and cotyledons foliaceous convolute. — 4 genera. 



II. Erisme^e. — Ovary adnate to the concavity of the receptacle 

 (adherent) unilocular, biovulate. Ovules desceudeut with inferior 

 and exterior micropyle. One single fertile stamen. Fruit indehis- 

 cent, samaroid. Embryo straight, exalbumicous. — 1 genus. 



III. Trigonia.^ — Ovary free upon the oblique receptacle, scarcely 

 concave or very deep, with several bi-ovulate or multi-ovulate cells. 

 Audroceum irregular ; several fertile stamens, unequal. Fruit cap- 

 sular. Embryo straight, surrounded by albumen. — 2 genera. 



The secondary characters which, in this series, serve to distin- 

 guish the genera, are the greater or less concaA'ity of the receptacle, 

 the number of fertile stamens, the number of ovules in each cell, 

 and the more or less decided anatr opens character of the seeds, the 

 thickness, consistency, persistence or disappearance of the central 

 fruit columella. Those which, on the contrary, are constant in the 

 family, are : the woody nature of the stems, the disposition on the 

 leaves, opposite or verticillate (except in £i(//itia)^ the irregularity 

 of the flowers and the perigynous insertion, except in certain 

 Tri(/omas where it is scarcely indicated. 



All the known species of Voclu/siacecv^ some hundred, belong to 

 the tropical regions of South America, They have but few viseful 

 qualities. Their resiuotis juice has not been much used, nor has 

 the perfumed essence of the flowers.^ The arborescent species 

 furnish a useful wood. That of Vochysla guiancnsis'^ {^^.\21~\?>\) 

 is said to be hard but little durable. It is seldom that the plants 

 have been introduced into our greenhouses, and the culture of them 

 has not, I believe, been successful. 



« Abnormally two or three. Lindl. Veg. Kiiigrl, 3S0. — Rosenth. Sijn. PI. 



3 Triffo/twei'te Maut. Consp, 247. — Endl. Geu, I>iaji/wr.S90. — 1'. e^tuLfa Zvcc. — Vfc/ii/ i/uiaiieu- 



1080, — Cicn. Poli/ffaleirriim Lindl. Viy. Kiiigil, sh Aubl. Onian. i. 18, t. 6. — Cuciillaria crcelxa 



376.— Gen. M»fpit//iiacii.i a.S\ne J. Gen. 253. 'W.Spcc. i. 17. [IfnbaUl. Copaiiji, according to 



^ Exi>l. Eiictiirtd. 031. Schomeikok.) 



* I>AMK. 111. t. 11.— DC. Froilr. iii.2C, n. 1.— 



