Ord. VITACE^. 



Frutifces sarmentosi, cirrhis oppositifoliis scandentes, succo 

 aqueo, stipulis deciduis : dicotyledoneaB, subhypogynas, regu- 

 lares ; calyce brevissimo ; petalis 4 — 5 sestivatione valvatis 

 caducis ; staminibus A — 5 oppositipetalis ; ovario 2-loculari ; 

 ovulis in quoque loculo geTuinis collateralihus erectis ; stig- 

 mate unico ; bacca 1 - 4-sperma ; seminibiis osseis ; embryone 

 minimo in basi albiiminis dense carnosi, radicula infera. 



ViTES, Juss. Gen. p. 267. 



ViNiFER^;, Juss. in Mem. Mus. 3. p. 444. 



ViTACEvE, Lindl. Introd. Nat. Syst. ed. 2. p. 30, & Veg. Kingd. p. 439. 



SarmentacejE, Venten. Tabl. p. 167. 



Ampelide^, Kunth in H. B. K. Nov. Gen. & Sp. 5. p. 223. DC. Prodr. 



1. p. G27. Wight, 111. Ind. Bot. p. 159. t. 57, 58. Endl. Gen. 



p. 796. 



The Vine Family, although its particular affinities and place in the series 

 are not well made out, is readily distinguished by the very short and often 

 truncate calyx, the valvate aestivation of the corolla, the stamens as many as 

 the petals and inserted opposite them on the outside or under the edge of a 

 fleshy or glandular disk (this is absent in Ampelopsis), which girts the base 

 of, and sometimes adheres to, the two-celled ovary, with two erect collateral 

 ovules in each cell ; the berry with from one to four bony seeds ; and the 

 minute embryo at the base of hard fleshy albumen. It consists of woody 

 plants, climbing by tendrils, which, like the peduncles, are opposite the 

 leaves ; the leaves therefore alternate, or some of the lower opposite ; and 

 with small greenish flowers in thyrsoid cymes or panicles. The branchlets 

 are tumid at the nodes, where they often separate readily. The Indian and 

 South African genus Leea, which connects this family with MeliaccK, 

 bears no tendrils, and has monadelphous stamens and a 3-6-celled ovary 

 with a single ovule in each cell, introduces certain exceptions into the ordi- 

 nal character, which I have not here taken notice of. 



Although the true Grapes are jjlants of the northern temperate region, 

 belonging to Middle Asia and to North America, yet tlie greater part of this 

 small order is found within the tropics and in the Kast Indies. 



