88 FAMILIES OF FLOWERING PLANTS. 
minal clusters of small greenish-white flowers and may be found grow- 
ing in open underbrush. In the southern states three rare shrubs, 
Darbya, Pyrularia and Buckleya also represent the family. In Europe 
the genera and species are much more numerous; while in Asia the 
family becomes important on account of the Sandalwood, derived from 
various species of Santalum. 
Family Grubbiaceae. Grubbia Family. A small and insignifi- 
cant group consisting of the single genus Grubb/a, with 3 South Afri- 
can species. 
Family Opiliaceae. Opilia Family. 
Consists of three or four genera, each 
with one or two species, confined to the 
tropics of the Old World. By many 
botanists it is regarded as a section of the 
following: 
Family Olacaceae. Olax Family. 
A group containing about 20 genera and 
115 species, natives exclusively of tropical 
and subtropical regions. They are trees 
or shrubs with simple alternate leaves, 
and perfect flowers provided with both 
calyx and corolla; the former is united 
into a single piece (gamosepalous), and the 
corolla consists of 3 to 6 distinct petals; 
fertile stamens 3 to 10, with a like number 
of sterile filaments; ovary several-celled, 
becoming a one-seeded, fleshy fruit, 
The genus Ximenia, represented by 
Fic. 73.—The Florida Wild Plum a single species in Florida, X. Americana, 
ee petit Soares brings this family within the flora of the 
United States. Figure 73 shows a branch 
with flowers, in which may be seen the. sterile filaments. The fruit 
is yellow and so much resembles a plum in appearance that it is locally 
called by that name. It is edible, being sweetish in taste and slightly 
astringent in properties. ; 
Family Balanophoraceae. Balanophora Family. Contains 14 
genera and about 30 species, natives of warm or hot climates, They 
are succulent leafless parasites, entirely destitute of chlorophyll, and 
consequently not green in ‘color, but of various shades of yellow or 
