DICOTYLEDONES— MONOCSLAMYDE^ 237 



This is a small order of climbing herbs or shrubs closely allied 

 to Chenopodiaoese, but chiefly distinguished by its plants having 

 two rows of coloured sepals, and by their stamens being evi- 

 dently perigynous. There are about 12 species, all of which 

 are tropical plants. This is made a aub-order of Chenopodiacece 

 by Bentham and Hooker. 



ProperUes and Uses. — Basella rubra and B. alba are used in 

 the East Indies as a substitute for Spinach. Prom the former 

 species a purple dye may be also obtained. The fleshy roots of 

 TJITmcus tuberosus or Melloca tuberosa are largely used in Peru 

 and some of the adjoining countries as a substitute for the 

 Potato. 



;. Order 5. Phytolaocage*, the Phytolacca Order. — C h a - 

 r a c t e r. — Herbs or undershrubs. Leaves alternate, entire, ex- 

 stipulate. Flowers hermaphrodite or very rarely unisexual, 

 racemose. Calyx 4 — 5-partite. Stamens nearly or quite hypo- 

 gynous, either equal in number to the divisions of the calyx 

 and alternate with them, or more numerous ; anthers 2-celled. 

 Ovary superior, composed of 2 or more carpelsj distinct or more 

 or less combined ; styles and stigmas distinct, equal in number 

 to the carpels. Fruit dry or succulent, each carpel of which it 

 is composed containing 1 ascending seed ; embryo curved round 

 mealy albumen ; radicle next the hUum. 



Distribution and Numbers. — Natives principally of America, 

 India, and Africa, lll/astrative Genera : — Giesekia, Linn. ; Phy- 

 tolacca, Tourn. There are about 80 species. 



Properties and Uses. — An acrid principle is more or less dif- 

 fused throughout the plants of this order ; but this is frequently 

 destroyed by boiling in water. Some are emetic and purgative. 



Order 6. PETiVBEiACBiB, the Petiveria Order. — Diagnosis, 

 &c. — This is a small order of plants, which is included by some 

 botanists, as Bentham and Hooker, in Phytolaccaceae, with 

 which it agrees in many particulars. It is distinguished from 

 that order by having stipulate leaves, an ovary formed of a 

 single carpel, exalbuminous seeds, and a straight embryo with 

 convolute cotyledons. These plants are natives of tropical 

 America. There are about 12 species in this order. 



Properties and Uses. — Most of the species are acrid, and 

 some have a strong aUiaceous odour. 



Order 7. Batidace^e, the Batis Order. — This supposed dis- 

 tinct order only contains a single plant, the Batis mariiima, a 

 succulent shrubby species, with opposite leaves, and unisexual 

 flqwers arranged in amenta ; it is a native of the West Indies, 



