218 SAPINDACE^. 



dation ; the leaves simple and entire, or sometimes impari- 

 pinnate, destitute of stipules. Flowers polygamous, or some- 

 times all perfect, racemose, paniculate or glomerate, axillary 

 or terminal, greenish or whitish. 



Etymology. The genus is dedicated to Dodoens, a Dutch botanist of the 

 sixteenth century. 



Geographical Distribution. The species are all tropical or subtrop- 

 ical, the greater number Australian. One very widely distributed species is 

 found along our Southern confines. 



Properties. The resinous exudation of D. viscosa is somewhat balsam- 

 ic, and the seeds are said to be edible. 



PLATE 182. DoDON^A viscosa, Linn.; — a branch in flower, of the 

 natural size ; from Florida. 



1 . Diagram of the flower. 



2. Vertical section of a flower, magnified, showing the ovules. 



3. A magnified stamen, seen from the outside. 



4. The same, seen from the inside. 



5. Fruit, of the natural size. 



6. Vertical section of the same, showing the seeds. 



7. A seed enlarged. 



8. Vertical section of the seed and spirally convolute embryo, magnified. 



