504 BEUNIAOEiE — HAMAMELIDACEjE: 



G. follicularis, .whicli inhabits S.W. Australia. Its leaves are arranged 

 in a rosette at the top of the rhizome. They are of two kinds, one ilat, 

 with a somewhat cylindrical dilated petiole, and the other true ascidia 

 (pitchers) formed hy the petiole, which is dilated at the top into two 

 lips, the lower being larger and cup-like, and opening by a circular 

 orifice, the upper being smaller, and acting as a lid to the cup. The 

 pitchers contain a secretion. Examples — EscaUonia, Brexia, Itea, 

 Cunonia, Weinmannia, Hydrangea, Bauera, Saxiiraga, Astilbe, 

 Ohrysosplenium, Heuchera. 



Order 88. — BEUNiACEiE, the Brunia Family. (Polypet. Epigyn.) 

 Calyx 5-cleft ; sestivation imbricated. Petals inserted in the throat 

 of the calyx, and alternate with its segments. Stamens alternate 

 with the petals, arising from them, or from a disk surrounding the 

 ovary ; anthers introrse, 2-ceUed, with longitudinal dehiscence. 

 Ovary usually adherent to the tube of the calyx, and 1-3-celled ; 

 ovules anatropal, suspended, 1 or 2 in each cell ; style simple or bifid ; 

 stigmas 1-3. Fruit either bicdccous and 2-ceUed, or indehiscent and 

 1 -celled, crowned by the persistent calyx. Seeds solitary or in pairs, 

 suspended, sometimes with a short ariUus ; embryo minute, at the 

 base of fleshy albumen ; cotyledons short and fleshy ; radicle conical, 

 next the hUum.— Branched heath-like shrubs, with small, imbricated, 

 rigid, and entire leaves, and small, often capitate flowers. They are 

 natives principally of the Cape of Good Hope, and have no important 

 properties. There are 10 known genera and about 40 species. 

 Examples — Brunia, Staavia, Berzelia. 



Order 89. — Hamamelidace^, the Witch-hazel Family. (Polypet. 

 Epigyn.y Calyx 4-5-lobed or truncate. Petals 4-5 or 0, inserted on 

 the calyx, alternating with the calycine segments. Stamens twice as 

 many as the petals, in two rows, one of which alternates with the ' 

 petals and is fertile, the other is opposite to them and sterile ; anthers 

 bUocular, introrse. Ovary adherent, 2-celled ; ovules solitary, or seve- 

 ral (in Buoklandia and Sedgwickia), pendulous or suspended ; styles 2. 

 Fruit a 2-celled, 2-valved capsule, opening by loculicidal dehiscence. 

 Seeds pendulous ; embryo straight, in the axis of fleshy albumen ; 

 cotyledons leafy ; radicle superior. — Shrubs or small trees, with alter- 

 nate, petiolate, feather-veined, and stipulate leaves, and small axillary, 

 bracteated, often unisexual flowers. They are found in various parts' 

 of Asia, Africa, and America. The seeds of Hamamelis vi/rginica are 

 used as food, while its leaves and bark are astringent and acrid. 

 Liquidamha/r orientalis yields liquid storax, which is used as a cure for 

 scabies. The resins yielded by Liquidambar styraciflua, Formosana, 

 and altingiana, are also used as fragrant balsams. By some authors 

 these plants are placed in a Monochlamydeous order, Balsamifluse or 

 Altingiacese. Authors notice 15 genera, including 30 species. Ex- 

 amples — Hamamelis, Fothergilla, Buoklandia, Rhodoleia, Liquidambar. 



