Ord. RHAMNACE^. 



Frutices sen arbusculse simplicifolise, stipulis parvis vel 

 obsoletis: dicotyledonese, perigynae, regulares, 4-5-andrge; 

 calyce libero seu adhserente cBstivatione valvato ; staminihus 

 petalis CBstivatione involuto-complicatis numero cBqualibus et 

 iisdem oppositis, tnargini disco perigyno insertis ; ovulis 

 solitariis erectis in qiioqiie loculo ovarii 1-4-locularis ; fructu 

 drupaceo v. 2 - 4-cocco ; emhnjone niagno recto in axi al- 

 buminis parci carnosi ; cotyledonibus carnosis seu foliaceis 

 planis vel marginibns recurvis, radicula brevi infera. 



Rhamnorum Genera, Juss. Gen. p. 376. 



Rhamne^, R. Br. in Flind. Voy. 2. p. 554. DC. Prodr. 2. p. 29. Brongn. 



in Ann. Sci. Nat. 10. p. 320. Endl. Gen. p. lOlM. 

 RHAMNACE.a;, Lindl. Introd. Nat. Syst. 2. p. 107, &, Veg. Kingd. p. 581. 



The Buckthorn Family consists of small trees or shrubs, with alternate, 

 or rarely opposite, simple leaves, and small and regular tetrandrous or pen- 

 tandrous flowers. The family is readily distinguished from all others by the 

 valvate aestivation of the calyx ; the separately involute aestivation of the 

 petals (which, however, are occasionally wanting) ; the position of the sta- 

 mens before the petals, or alternate with the lobes of the calyx ; the inser- 

 tion of the petals and stamens upon the margin of a conspicuous perigynous 

 disk, which lines the calyx-tube, usually surrounds the ovary or its base, and 

 sometimes coheres with it ; the erect and (with a single and doubtful excep- 

 tion) solitary ovule in each cell ; and the large and straight embryo in scanty 

 albumen, with broad cotyledons and an inferior radicle. The flowers are 

 either perfect, or by abortion polygamo-mono'cious or dioecious. The fruit 

 is drupaceous, or sometimes capsular or nut-like. The seeds are very rarely, 

 if ever, arillate. 



The points of resemblance to Byttneriacca?, noticed by ]Mr. Brown when 

 he established the present family on its proper basis, go to show that the 

 position of the stamens before the petals is to be explained in Rliamnacese 

 in the same manner as in the former order {vide supra, p. 83). 



Mr. Bennett* has explained the mode in which the originally internal 



* In Horsefield's PlantcB Javanicm Rariores, p. 131. 



