316 MANUAL OF BOTANY 



used ill Brazil for salads. In their properties generally, the 

 Ochnacese much resemble the Simarubacese. 



Order 98. Bdhsekace^ or Amyeidacb^, the Myrrh Order. 

 Character. — Trees or shrubs, abounding in a fragrant gum- 

 resinous or resinous juice. Leaves compound, alternate or oppo- 

 site, frequently dotted and stipulate. Flo titers perfect, or rarely 

 unisexual. Calyx persistent, with 2 — 5 divisions. Petals 3—5, 

 arising from the calyx below the disc ; msfivation valvate, or 

 occasionally imbricate. Stamens twice as many as the petals, 

 perigynous. Disc perigynous. Ovary 1 — 5-celled, superior, 

 sessile, placed in or upon the disc ; ovules in pairs, attached to a 

 placenta at the apex of the cell, anatropous. Fruit dry, 1 — 5- 

 eelled ; epicarp often splitting in a valvular manner. Seeds 

 exalbuminous ; radAcle superior, turned towards the hilum. 



Distribution and Numbers. — They have been found only in 

 the tropical regions of America, Africa, and India. Illustrative 

 Genera: — BosweUia, Boxb.; Balsamodendron, Kuntli. There 

 are about 60 species. 



Properties and Uses. — The plants of the order appear to be 

 almost universally characterised by an abundance of fragrant 

 resinous or gum-resinous juice. Some are considered poisonous ; 

 others bitter, purgative, or anthelmintic ; and a few furnish 

 useful timber. 



Order 99. Meliaoe^, the Melia Order. — C h ar a c t e r. — Trees 

 or shrulbs. Leaves alternate or rarely somewhat opposite, sim- 

 ple or pinnate, exstipulate. Flowers occasionally unisexual by 

 abortion. Calyx 3- 4- or 5-partite. Petals equal in number to 

 the divisions of the calyx, hypogynous, sometimes united at the 

 base ; imbricate or valvate. Stamens twice as many as the 

 petals, monadelphous ; anthers sessile, placed within the orifice 

 of the tube formed by the united filaments. Disc hypogynous, 

 sometimes large and cup-lilie. Ovary compound, usually 2- 3- 

 4- or 5-celled, rarely 10- or 12- celled; style 1 ; stigmas separate 

 or combined; ovules 1, 2, or rarely 4, in each cell. Fruit 

 baccate, drupaceous, or capsular, in the latter case opening 

 loculicida,lly ; many-celled, or by abortion 1-oelled. Seeds few, 

 not winged, arillate or exarillate ; albumen fleshy or usually 

 absent ; embryo generally with leafy cotyledons. 



Diagnosis. — This order is very nearly allied to Cedrelacefp, 

 and by some botanists the latter order is included in it. It is 

 chiefly distinguished from Cedrelaceae by having more com- 

 pletely monadelphous stamens ; by the possession of fewer seeds ; 

 and in those seeds being without wings. 



