Ord. ZYGOPHYLLACEtE. 



Herboc, friitices, v. arbores, ligno durissimo, foliis oppositis 

 pinnatis epunctatis stipulatis : dicotyledonese, polypetalas, 

 hypogynas, regulares, plerumque pentamerse, decandrae ; ass- 

 tivatione calycis et corollas ssepissime imbricativa ; ovario 

 2 - 10-loculari ; stylis in unicum coalitis ; embryone in albu- 

 mine corneo (rarius exalbuminoso) magno recto sen recti- 

 usculo. 



Zygophylle^, R. Br. in Flind. Voy. 2. p. 543, & in Denham, Appx. 



p. 27. DC.Prodr. l.p.703. Adr. Juss. inMem. Miis. 12. p. 450. 

 Zygophyllace^:, Lindl. Introd. Nat. Syst. ed. 2. p. 133, & Veg. Kingd. 



p. 478. 

 RuTACEARUM Sect. 1, Juss. Gen. p. 296. 



The Bean-Caper Family is well distinguished from the allied orders, es- 

 pecially from Rutaceffi, of which it formerly made a part, hy its opposite and 

 pinnate dotless leaves, with intermediate stipules, and the corneous albumen 

 of the seed ; but this is destitute of albumen in two genera. It bears the 

 closest resemblance to Geraniaceae and Oxalidaceae. From Geraniacea; 

 (with which Kallstromia agrees in having a prolonged and persistent beak- 

 like axis to the fruit, and even in the convolute estivation of the petals), the 

 Zygophyllaceffi differ in their straight or straightish embryo, with plane coty- 

 ledons and a superior radicle. From Oxalidaccai they are distinguished l)y 

 their combined styles, distinct stamens, and opposite leaves. 



One leaf of each pair is commonly smaller than the other, or rarely abor- 

 tive, as in Chitonia. 



In this, as in the allied families, the stamens of the scries which is op- 

 posed to the petals (and whicli in Kallstromia adhere to their bases) are exte- 

 rior : accordingly they are taken by Brongniart and others as a dcdu])lication 

 of the petals ; and the late appearance of the petals, mentioned by Jussieu, 

 favors this explanation. But, on the opposing view, the five hypogynous 

 glands, which alternate with the petals and form the first verticil within 

 them, are more naturally held to represent the normal, primary series of 

 stamens ; those opposite the petals consequently make the second series, and 

 liie five inner, alternating with these, the third .series. The membranaceous 



