ELAAGNACEZ. 487 
and some Combretacee. A. L. pz Jussrzv,’ in 1789, only followed 
Apanson, adding to his order Hleaynacee (Chalefs) Quinchamalium 
and. Colpoon, which are also Santalacee. A. Ricuarp reduced this 
order to its present limits in 1823, in a special Monograph,’ wherein 
he describes, besides Hleagnus Shepherdia and Hippophae, the plant 
Conuleum, which, as we have seen,’ is a Monimiad of the genus 
Stparuna. However, Dn ScHLECHTENDAL, reversing the order 
Hleagnacee* for the Prodromus,' retained the genus Conuleum, and 
added as doubtful genera Octarillum of Lovrutro,' and Aeatoxicon of 
Ruiz and Pavon.? This little order has since remained unaltered ; 
it contains some thirty species, of which five-sixths belong to 
Eleagnus. This genus inhabits the temperate regions of Europe, 
Asia, and North America. Skhepherdia is peculiar to America; 
Hippophae to the Old World; each genus contains two species. 
All the Hleagnacee are arborescent or frutescent ;° all have their 
organs covered with peltate or stellate scurfy hairs, often silvery or 
scurfy ; all have exstipulate leaves, naked leaf-buds, small incon- 
spicuous flowers, possessing one or two whorls of stamens with 
introrse anthers, and a single carpel with anatropous ovules. Of 
the variable characters we consider some of primary importance, and 
have used them to divide this group into two series, whereof one 
is only a doubtful member of the order.’ This is Aextovicee, 
wherein the floral receptacle is scarcely concave, the ovary contains 
two collateral descending ovules, and the perianth is triple.” The 
Hleagnee have on the contrary a sacciform receptacle which persists 
around the fruit, to which it forms a fleshy, often drupaceous indu- 
sium ; their perianth is simple, and their ovule is solitary, suberect. 
The other varying characters are best fitted for generic distinction. 
The leaves are opposite in Shepherdia, alternate in Hippophae and 
Eleagnus ; the flowers are hermaphrodite in most species of the 
latter genus, dicecious in the former two. The perianth may consist 
1 Gen., '74, Ord. i. 
2 In Mém. de la Soc. d’ Hist. Nat. de Paris, 
i. 875-408, t. 24, 25. 3 Vol. i. 305. 
4 Linp., Introd., ed. 2, 194; Veg. Kingd., 
257.—Eleagnee R. Br., Prodr., 350.—ENDL., 
Gen., 338, Ord. cxii—Hleagnidee DUMORT., 
Anal, 15, 18. 5 XIV., 606-616. 
§ Fl, Cochinch., 118.—ENDL., Gren, n. 2083. 
—Scutcoutt., Prodr., 615. By its tubular te- 
tramerous perianth, its four stamens, and its 
simple gyneceum, the place of this genus appears 
to come near Hlzagnus ; but the structure of its 
ovary is quite unknown to us. The seed is de- 
scribed as arillate (?). 
7 Prodr., 131 (1797). 
8 The branches often taper into spines bearing 
only rudimentary leaves, or leafless. 
9 Aextoxicon has been referred to the doubtful 
Euphorbiacee by Enpiicuzr, to Ilicinee by 
Miers, to Monimiacee by DecaIsne, A. DE 
Canpotie (Prodr., xvi. 641) accepts none of 
these affinities. 10 See p. 485, note 4. 
