TERNSTRŒMIACE 2. 255 
V. Pezuicerieæ.— Flowers enveloped in two large bracts with 
imbricated corolla and calyx. Androceum isostemonous ; ovary of 
which only one cell is fertile and uniovulate.—Trees with alternate un- 
symmetrical leaves and solitary subsessile terminal flowers.—(1 genus.) 
VI. Marceravirez.—Corolla imbricate, with the parts free or 
united below for a great distance in a sort of cap which is detached 
at the base. Stamens definite or indefinite in number. Anthers sub- 
basifixed. Fruit with thick pericarp, indehiscent or rarely partly 
dehiscent. Seeds small and numerous, exalbuminous ; embryo fleshy, 
straight or lightly fornicate, with cotyledons shorter than the radicle. 
Epiphytal or sarmentose shrubs with terminal inflorescence in short 
racemes or umbels, with 1-flowered bracts often transformed into 
ascidia, &c.—(3 genera.) 
VII. Caryocareæ.—Corolla imbricate, with petals free or ad- 
hering and falling together as a cap. Ovary cells uniovulate. Fruit 
indehiscent. Seed exalbuminous, macropodal, with much-developed 
radicle, inflexed or spirally rolled.—Trees or shrubs with compound 
digitate leaves and flowers disposed in terminal racemes.—(2 genera.) 
In Zernstræmiaceæ, as in all families formed “ by concatenation,” 
there are few characters which are absolute, and those of one series 
pass easily to those of another. The features of organization, which 
vary but little in a natural group, and suffice even to distinguish one 
family from another, are not constant in a given series. Thus from 
one genus to another we see the corolla gamopetalous or polypetalous, 
the stamens definite or indefinite in number, hypogynous or peri- 
gynous, the fruit dry or fleshy, the seeds with or without albumen, 
the leaves alternate or opposite stipulate exstipulate.* Hence arises 
a great difficulty in separating distinctly Zernstremiacee from the 
numerous neighbouring groups with which it presents affinities. 
According to all authors it is very nearly allied to 7/aceæ, and in 
general very badly distinguished from it except in the præfloration of 
the calyx, which is always imbricated in Zernstremiacee and generally 
valvate in Y#aceæ* Dipterocarpacee, which differ distinctly from 
the latter by the very decided imbrication of the sepals, become thus 

1 Rhizobolee DG, Prodr., i, 599.—ENDL., 3 We know, however, that the imbrication of 
Gen., 1075, Ord. 231.—Rhizobolaceæ LiNpz., the calyx is very decided in certain species of 
Veg. Kingd., 398, Ord. 143. Sloanea, generally inseparably from those with 
? When these organs exist in Ternstræmiaceæ  Valvate calyx (on the value of this character sce 
they are always but very slightly developed. Adansonia, x, 190). 
