478 LXXVI. BORAGINACE.E .[Cordia 



Order LXXVI. BORAGINACEiE. Gen. PI. ii. 832 



(Boraginece). 



As a rule herbs : trees and shrubs in a few genera only. L. alternate, rarely 

 opposite, usually undivided, stipules 0. Fl. bisexual, as a rale regular, mostly 

 pentamerous, in unilateral spikes or racemes, the ends rolled back when young, 

 and often dichotomous. Calyx free, persistent, lobes valvate in bud. Corolla 

 hygogynous, gamopetalous, stamens inserted in the tube, alternating with 

 lobes. Ovary free, of 2 carpels, entire or 4- rarely 2-lobed, style simple or 

 2— 4-fid, terminal or inserted between the lobes. Embryo straight, radicle 

 short, superior, albumen none or scanty. 



Remarkable anatomical characters. — Stiff one-celled hairs, erect or slanting, walls 

 often thick and granular, base often large and rounded, are common in plants of this 

 order. Cordia and allied genera have also stellate and branched, sometimes glandular 

 hairs. In many cases the rough surface of the leaves is caused by cells of the epidermis 

 containing cystoliths, concretions mainly consisting of Calcium Carbonate. Cysto- 

 liths often are found in the enlarged base of hairs and not rarely (species of Cordia) in 

 groups of epidermis cells, which appear as white disks, mostly on the upper surface of 

 leaves. 



Style twice forked, drupe with one stone . . . .1. Cordia. 

 Style bifid to the middle or lower down, drupe with 2-4 



pyrenes . 2. Ehretia. 



Style filiform, stigma 2-lobed, cymes few-flowered . . Rhabdia (p. 482). 

 Style short, undivided, cymes many-fid 3. Tournefortia. 



1. CORDIA, Linn. ; Fl. Brit. Ind. iv. 136. 



Trees or shrubs, usually deciduous, gum issues from wounds in the bark. 

 Medullary rays broad, 3-5 cells wide, prominent on a radial section, vessels 

 large, up to 0'2 mm. diam. ; transverse, often broad bands of wood parenchyma 

 at right angles to med. rays. L. as a rule alternate. Fl. polygamous, usually 

 $ and $ in dichotomous cymose panicles or corymbs. Calyx obconical, cam- 

 panulate or tubular, enclosing the fl. until they open, teeth short, 4-5, often 

 irregular. Corolla funnel-shaped, lobes 4-8. Stamens 4-8, filaments often 

 hairy at the base, anthers shortly exserted. Ovary glabrous, 4-celled, 1 ovule 

 in each cell, style terminal, twice forked. Fr. a drupe partly enclosed in the 

 enlarged and hardened calyx, endocarp hard, often perforated at the apex, 

 seed usually one, albumen 0, cotyledons plaited lengthwise. Species over 200, 

 tropical countries of both hemispheres, chiefly America. Species 4, 7, 9, 10, 

 12 deserve attention on account of their beautiful timber. 



I. Fl. small or middle-sized, white, corolla-tube as long as or shorter than 

 calyx. 



A. L. alternate, basal nerves 3-5. 



(a) Cystolith cells not conspicuous on upper surface of leaves. 



1. C. Myxa, Linn. ; Wight 111. t, 169 ; Bedd. Fl. Sylv. t. 245a.— Syn. O. 

 obliqua, Willd. Vern. Lessora, Bhairala, Easalla, Hind. ; Buhal, Beng. ; 

 Shelu, Bhokar, Mar. ; Iriki, Nakkeri, Tel. ; Challe, Kan. ; Vidi, Tarn. ; Vira- 

 sham, Mai. ; Thanat, Burin. 



A middle-sized tree, branchlets glabrous, wood soft, light grey, no heartwood. 

 L. entire or slightly dentate, glabrous, but more or less rough when full 

 grown, variable in shape, from elliptic-lanceolate to broad ovate, often with 

 a rounded or cordate base, basal n. 3, rarely 5, blade 3-6, pet. 1-2 in. long. 

 Fl. small, in large lax terminal and axillary pedunculate almost glabrous 

 cymes, peduncles 1-2 in., buds nearly globose. Drupe i-1 in. long, when ripe 



