338 MANUAL OF BOTANY 



stigma sessile, 4-lobed. Fruit a membranous 4-oelled, 4-valved 

 capsule, with looulicidal or septicidal dehiscence. Seeds small, 

 indefinite ; embrijo very minute, at the base of a large quantity 

 of fleshy albumen. 



Distribution and Numbers. — Natives of Chili. Ilhostraiive 

 Genera : — Fraucoa, Cavan. ; Tetilla, DC. These are the only 

 genera ; they include about 6 species. 



Properties and Uses. — The Francoas are reputed to be cooling 

 and sedative. Tetilla is astringent, and is employed as a remedy 

 in dysentery. 



Order 124. EscALLONiAOB^a:, the Escallonia Order. — Charac- 

 ter. — Evergreen shrubs, with alternate exstipulate glandular 

 leaves and axillary showy flowers. Calyx superior, 5-toothed, 

 imbricate in sestivation. Petals 5, alternate with the divisions 

 of the calyx, perigynous, or rarely hypogynous. Stamens 5, 

 alternate with the petals, perigynous, or rarely hypogynous. 

 Ovary inferior, 2 — 5-celled, crowned by a cone-shaped disc ; 

 placentas axile ; style simple ; stigmas 2 — 5-lobed. Fruit cap- 

 sular or baccate, crowned by the persistent style and calyx. 

 Seeds very numerous, minute ; embryo small, in a mass of oily 

 albumen. 



Distribution and Numbers. — They are chiefly natives of the 

 mountains of South America. Illustrative Genera : — Escallonia, 

 Mutis ; Itea, Linn. ; Brexia, Thouars. There are more than 

 06 species. 



Properties and Uses. — Unknown. 



Brexia. — This genus has been made the type of a distinct 

 order, named Brexiacese ; but Bentham and Hooker place it 

 near the genus Escallonia. 



Order 125. PHlLADELPHACE^a;, the Syringa Order. — Charac- 

 ter. — Shrubs. Leaves opposite, simple, deciduous, exstipulate 

 Caly-r superior, persistent, 4 — 10-lobed, with a valvate sestiva' 

 tion. Petals equal in number to the divisions of the calyx 

 and alternate with them. Stamens numerous, epigynous 

 Ovary inferior ; styles united or distinct ; stigmas several. Cap 

 side half-inferior, 4 — 10-celled, placentas axUe. Seeds nume 

 reus, with fleshy albumen. 



Distribution and Numbers. — Natives of the South of Europe, 

 North America, Japan, and India. Illustrative Genera : — 

 PhUadelphus, Linn. ; Deutzia, Thunb. There are about 

 25 species. 



Properties and Uses. — Of little importance. 



Order 120. HYDEANGBACEa;, the Hydrangea Order.— Dia- 



