68 PHYTOLACCB^. 



its base by a spurious transverse dissepiment. Placentas parietal : seeds several. — Leaves 

 opposite, with the petiole enlarged into a sheath : the pair often unequal; flowers axillary, 

 usually clustered. 



Tbe affinity of tbis genus with Sesuvium is obvious, thougb tbe structure of the ovary, as 

 understood by Wight and Arnott (Prodr. 1. p. 354), differs widely in its placentation, 

 which is similar iu the bicarpellary species to that of Crucifera; these views, which had 

 not been generally adopted by subsequent authors, have since been confirmed by Payer's 

 beautiful analysis of T. monogynum. {Ann. Sc. Nat. iii. 18. t. 12), where the single placenta 

 is shown to be originally parietal, and the longitudinal dissepiment does not exist. 



15. T. monogynum, L. Perennial, glabrous ; leaves roundish-obovate : the pair of 

 unequal size ; flowers suhsolitary, sessile, half-coucealed within the broad sheath : lid of the 

 capsule prominent j stamens 6-10, 5 exterior alternate with the calyx ; ovary monocarpellary, 

 with a single style ; capsule 6-8-seeded : lid concave at the top, with some bluntish teeth on 

 the margin, l(-3)-seeded, nearly closed at the base; seeds covered with lamellar lines. — 

 Dese. PI. 1. t. 51.— Stem 2'-3' long, decumbent, branched; calyx purple inside.— Hab. 

 Jamaica (SI.) ; Trinidad I, Cr. ; [New Mexico I and Cuba to New Granada ! and Venezuela !, 

 Galapagos Islands !]. 



XXI. PHYTOLACCEiE. 



Carpels campylotropous, either connate at the base, or solitary : styles distinct, usually 

 introrse, or none ; ovule mostly solitary. Phnhryo excentrical : perisperm central, mealy, or 

 wanting. — Leaves alternate, entire. 



An acrid, drastic principle is general in this Order ; Phytolacca and Petiveria therefore 

 are Colonial drugs. The berries of Phytolacca octandra are used for washing, like soap. 



1. SUKIANA, L. 



Calyx 5-partite. Petals 5, nearly perigynous. Stamens 10, of which five are usually 

 abortive. Carpels 5, distinct above the styliferous base, at length nucamentaceous : ovules 

 2, collateral, erect. Embryo incurved, exalbuminous. — ^A pubescent shrub ; leaves exstipulate, 

 crowded; laaemes few-flowered, terminal. 



This genus has been placed iu different Orders, the structure of the pistil pointing either 

 to Rutaceee or to Phjtolaccece ; but though the central albumen is wanting (as in Seguiera), 

 I believe it to belong to the latter group, in which, together with Stegnosperma, it would 

 exhibit the highest-developed fiower. * 



1. S. maritima, L.—Sl. t. 162./. 4; Lam III. t. 389.— A shrub, 3'-6' high; leaves 

 spathulate-lanceolate, tapering towards the sessile base, thickish, covered with a short down, 

 r'long; petals yellow, equjJling the calyx. — Hab. Jamaical, M'Nab, At., March; Turk 

 Islands!, ^jalmars.; Bahamas I and Caribbean Islands 1, on the seashore; [tropical coasts 

 of the globe, e.^. Pacific Islands!, Northern Australia!, Mauritius!]. 



2. PHYTOLACCA, L. 



Calyx 5-partite. Petals 0. Stamens indefinite -5, nearly perigynous. Carpels 12-5, 

 connate, at length baccate. Embryo annular, encircling the perisperm. — Herbs ; leaves ex- 

 stipulate ; racemes terminal and lateral. 



2. P. octandra, L. Stem sulcate ; racemes spiciform, erect : pedicels shorter than the 

 flower; stamens 8 ; carpids 8-10: back convex, prominent. — Sesc. Ft. 5. t. 312: with 10 

 stamefas. — P. decandra, JDesc. [non L.). — An erect, perennial herb ; leaves elliptical or ellip- 



^ tical-lanceolate, pointed ; calyx yellowish-white ; berry nearly black. — Hab. Jamaica 1, Pd., 

 ' March, common in moist, fertile places, and Caribbean Islands ; [Mexico ! to Peru ! and 

 Montevideo!]. 



3. P. icosandra, L. Stem striate; racemes exceeding the leaves, slender, drooping at 

 the top : pedicels much longer than the flower ; stamens 20-10 ; carpids 20-10 : back con- 

 vex, slightly prominent. — Bol. Mag. t. 2633. — Suffrutescent ; leaves ovate or ovate-lanceo- 

 late, shortly acuminate ; calyx reddish- white ; berry black. — Hab. Jamaical, Disti; Baha- 

 mas!, Swains.; Dominica!, Imr.; Trinidad!, Or.; [Mexico! to Peru! and Brazil!]. 



