BALANOPHOEACE^ — CYTINACE^ — RAFFLESIACE^. 577 



a peculiar arrangement of vascular bundles in their ■wood. There are 

 no concentric zones, but a number of separable wedges (p. 60). The 

 name of Birthwort, given to Aristolochias, depends on their supposed 

 action on the uterus. Some of them are used as emmenagogues. The 

 root of Aristolochia Serpentaria, Virginian Snake-root, is a stimulant 

 tonic. The plant is a native of the United States. It was formerly- 

 used as an antidote to snake-poison. It is now employed occasionally 

 as a tonic diaphoretic. Aristolochia longa, rotunda, and Ckmatitis, 

 were celebrated in ancient times as uterine remedies. The roots of 

 many of the species have a strong aromatic taste. Those of Aristo- 

 lochia anguicida are said to stupify snakes. 



Order 156. — Balanophoeace*, the Balanophora Order. (Apet. 

 Biclin.) Flowers usually unisexual, male flowers conspicuous, with an 

 entire or 3-5-lobed perianth ; aestivation valvate ; stamens usually 

 3-5, distinct or united. Female flowers minute, with a superior peri- 

 anth, sometimes bilabiate ; ovary 1-ceUed ; styles 2 ; ovule solitary, 

 pendulous. Fruit a 1-ceEed, 1-seeded nut. Seed albuminous ; em- 

 bryo amorphous and lateral. Eoot-parasites, without leaves, and 

 having peculiar fungus-like stems, bearing spikes of flowers, which are 

 either on naked or scaly peduncles. Hooker considers the order as 

 allied to Halorageaceae. — ^The plants grow on the roots of Dicotyle- 

 donous trees, chiefly on the Andes and Himalayas. Some are found 

 in Africa and Australia. Some of the plants are astringent, and have 

 been employed as styptics. Oynomorium coccineum, commonly known 

 as Fungus melitensis, grows in Malta and Sardinia, and was long cele- 

 brated for arresting haemorrhage. Genera, about 15 ; species, 37. 

 Examples — Balanophora, Oynomorium, Sarcophyte, Helosis. 



Order 157. — OYTiJsrACE.®, the Cistus-rape Family. (Apet. 

 Diclin.) Flowers perfect, or monoecious ; perianth 3-6-parted, supe- 

 rior ; anthers sessile, opening by longitudinal dehiscence ; ovary 1- 

 ceUed ; ovules numerous, attached to parietal placentas. Fruit suc- 

 culent, unilocular. Seeds embedded in pulp, with or without albu- 

 men ; embryo amorphous. — Eoot-parasites, having a fungus-like aspect, 

 with the flowers either solitary or in clusters at the end of scaly 

 peduncles. They are parasitic upon the roots of Cistus, some suc- 

 culent Euphorbiacese, and other plants. They are found in the south 

 of Europe and in AJFrica. Cytinus hypocistis is said to contain gallic 

 acid. Genera, 4 ; species, 7. Examples — Cytinus, Hydnora. 



Order 158. — Katflesiaoe^, the EaflBesia Family. (Apet. 

 Biclin.) Perianth 5-10-parted with a ring or a circle of scales (calli) 

 on the throat; anthers 2- or many-celled, distinct or united, with 

 porose dehiscence, and supported on a column ; ovary 1-celled, with 

 parietal placentas, to which numerous ovules are attached. Fruit inde- 

 hiscent. Seeds with or without albumen ; embryo a uniform undivided 

 l)ody. — Parasitic on species of Cissus, in the East Indies, and on legu- 



2 P 



