282 MANUAL OP BOTANY 



entire and leathery, and very often dotted. Flowers polypeta- 

 lous or apetalous ; usually hermapkrodite, but sometimes 

 unisexual. Scjiah 4 — 7, somewhat imited at the base. Petals 

 hypogynous, distinct, equal in number to the sepals and alter- 

 nate with them, or sometimes absent ; sometimes with scales at 

 the base. Stamens hypogynous, of the same number as the 

 petals, or some multiple of them. Ovary 1- or more-celled, 

 sessile or slightly stalked; placentas 2 or more, parietal, some- 

 times branched so as to form a network over the inner surface 

 of the ovary and fruit. Fruit 1-celled, dehiscent or indehiseent, 

 having a thin pulp in its centre. Seeds numerous, usually 

 enveloped in a covering formed by the withered pulp; albumen 

 fleshy-oily; embryo straight, axial; radicle turned to the 

 hilum. The Pangiaceae of some authors are included in this 

 order, in accordance with the views of Bentham and Hooker. 



Diagnosis. — Shrubs or small trees, with alternate exstipulate 

 leaves. Flowers polypetalous or apetalous, rarely unisexual ; 

 petals hypogynous, sometimes with scales at the base. Stamens 

 hypogynous, equal in number to the petals or some multiple of 

 them. Frnit dehiscent or indehiseent ; placentas parietal. 

 Seeds numerous, albuminous ; embryo axial, straight ; radicle 

 towards the hilum. 



Distribution and Numbers. — The plants of this order are 

 almost confined to the hottest parts of the East and West Indies, 

 and Africa. Illustrative Genera : — Bixa, Linn. ; Pangiuin, 

 Bumph. There are over 100 species. 



Properties and Uses. — Many plants of the order are feebly 

 bitter and astringent, and have been used as stomachics ; others 

 are alterative, tonic, and emetic. The fruits of Oncoba and of 

 sovae oi t\ie Flacourtiaa are edible and wholesome; but those 

 of some other plants are poisonous. It is said, however, that by 

 boiling, and maceration afterwards in cold water, the poisonous 

 properties may, in some cases, be got rid of, as in the seeds of 

 Pangium edule, the kernels of which are then used as a condi- 

 ment, and for mixing in curries. But even these, according to 

 Horsfield, act as a cathartic upon those unaccustomed to their 

 use. The seeds of some species are employed as dyeing and 

 colouring agents. 



Cohort 3. — Polygales. 



Order 65. Pittospoeace^, the Pittosporum Order. — Cha- 

 racter. — Trees or shrubs, with simple alternate exstipulate 

 leaves. i^'Zomers regular. SepaZs and ^eia.Z« 4 or 5, hypogynous-, 



