Ord. RUTACE^. 



Herbae alternifolise, exstipulatas, glanduloso-pimctatrc : di- 

 cotyledonea3, hypogynas, dichlamydeae, regulares, 4-5-merse, 

 diplostemoneae, hermaphroditae ; aestivatione imbricativa ; ova- 

 rio gynophoro brevi vel disco glanduloso insidente 2-5-lobo 

 2 - 5-lociilari ; stylis in unicum connatis ; capsulse lobis 

 introrsum dehiscentibus ; semiiiibus reniformi-arcuatis 2- 

 pleiospermis ; embryone in axi albuminis carnosi pi. m. 

 arcuato, idem longitudine asquante. 



RcTACE^, Juss. Gen. p. 296, ex parte. Endl. Gen. p. 1159. 



RuTE^, Adr. Juss. in Mem. Mus. 12, p. 4G1. 



RcTACEARUM pars, DC. Prodr. 1. p. 709. Lindl. Veg. Kingd. p. 469. 



The Rue Family, taken in the restricted sense, belongs to the Old World 

 (and to the Mediterranean region, with one genus in Nepaul and Japan), with 

 the solitary exception of the recently discovered and still unpublished Texan 

 plant which forms the subject of the next illustration. It is distinguished 

 from the Zygophyllaceae by the exstipulate alternate leaves dotted with pel- 

 lucid glands ; and from Zanthoxylaceas by their perfect flowers. The Dios- 

 mcaj are not sufficiently distinguished by the spontaneous separation of the 

 epicarp from the endocarp of the fruit, and the generally exalbuminous seeds. 



The sensible qualities of Rutaceous plants are exemplilied by the connnon 

 Rue. Their strong odor, nauseous bitterness, and acridity are due to the 

 volatile oil with which the herbage is charged. The Spanish Ruta montana 

 is so acrid, that it is said to blister the hands that gather it through three 

 pairs of gloves, and produces ulcerous pustules when applied to the naked 

 skin. The oil of Rue is a powerful stimulant and antispasmodic, and a 

 dangerous emmenagogue and vermifuge ; in over-doses it is an acrid-narcotic 

 poison. Notwithstanding their almost fetid odor, the leaves of the fresh 

 plant were used by the Romans as a condiment ; and they are still employed 

 in some parts of Southern Europe to flavor salads. 



The Dio,smca;, in which similar sonsil)le qualities prevail, although less 

 acrid and often tonic and fel)rifugal, arc much more numerous in genera and 

 species than the proper Rutaceac. With the exception of the Fraxinella, 



