488 EHIZOPHOEACEiE — VOCHYSIACE^ — COMBKETACE^E. 



centa bursts through the ovary and floral envelopes, so as to expose 

 the seeds. 



Order 69. — Rhizophoeacb.s:, the Mangrove Family. (Polypet. 

 Epigyn.) Calyx adherent, 4-12-lobed; aestivation valvate, or some- 

 times calyptriform. Petals arising from the calyx, alternate with the 

 lobes, and equal to them in number. Stamens inserted with the 

 petals, twice or thrice their number; filaments distinct, subulate; 

 anthers erect. Ovary 2-3-4-ceUed ; ovules 2 or more in each cell, 

 anatropal. Fruit indehiscent, crowned by calyx, unilocular, monosperm- 

 ous. Seed solitary, pendulous, exalbuminous ; cotyledons flat ; radicle 

 long) piercing the fruit. — Trees or shrubs, with simple opposite leaves, 

 and deciduous interpetiolary stipules. They are found on the muddy 

 shores of the tropics. There are 17 genera and about 50 species 

 known. Examples — Rhizophora, Kandelia, Cassipourea. 



The plants of the order have frequently an astringent bark, which 

 is in some cases used for dyeing black. Rhizophora Mangle, the Man- 

 grove, forms thickets at the muddy mouths of rivers in tropical coun- 

 tries, and sends out adventitious roots, which often raise the main 

 trunk much above its original level, and give the tree the appearance 

 of being supported upon stalks (fig, 99, p. 39). The fruit is sweet 

 and eatable. The embryo germinates before the fruit falls, and the 

 radicle is much elongated before the seed drops into the mud. The 

 anther consists of numerous cells containing pollen. 



Order 70. — VocHYSiACEiE, the Vochysia Family. (Polypet. Pe- 

 rigyn.) - Sepals 4-5, united at the base, unequal, the upper one largest 

 and spurred ; sestivation imbricated. Petals 1, 2, 3, or 5, alternate 

 with the divisions of the calyx, and inserted into its base, unequal. 

 Stamens 1-5, opposite to or alternate with the petals, perigynous, one 

 having an ovate, fertile, 4-celled anther, the rest being sterile. Ovary 

 free, or partially so, 3-ceUed ; ovules solitary or in pairs, rarely nu- 

 merous, amphitropal or anatropal ; style and stigma one. Fruit a 

 triquetrous, 3-celled and 3-valved capsule, usually with loculicidal de- 

 hiscence. Seeds usually 1-2 in each cell, erect, exalbuminous, attached 

 to a central placenta ; embryo straight ; cotyledons large and leafy ; 

 radicle short and superior. — Trees or shrubs, with opposite, entire, 

 stipulate leaves. They inhabit the warmer parts of America. Their 

 properties are little known. Their flowers are reputed to be very 

 sweet, and some are said to have a resinous juice. The order is by 

 some placed near Polygalacese. There are 7 genera enumerated, in- 

 cluding 100 species. Examples — Vochysia, Qualea. 



Order 71. — OoMBRETACE.a;, the Myrobalan FamOy. {Polypet. 

 Epigyn. ) Calyx 4-5-lobed, lobes deciduous. Petals arising from the 

 orifice of the calyx, alternate with the lobes, or wanting. Stamens 

 epigynous, twice as many as the lobes of the calyx, rarely equal in 

 number, or thrice as many ; filaments distinct, subulate ; anthers 



