DICOTYLEDONES-CALYCIFLOB^ 351 



of the filamentous processes, with an imbricate a?stivation ; 

 sometimes wanting. Stamens usually 5, monadelphous or 

 rarely numerous, attached to the stalk of the ovary, and thus 

 raised above the calyx. Ovary stalked, superior, 1-celled ; 

 styles, 8, clavate ; placentas parietal. Fruit 1-oelled, stalked, 

 generally succulent. Seeds numerous, arillate ; embryo in thin 

 fleshy albumen. 



Distribution and Numbers. — They are chiefly found in tro- 

 pical America, but a few also occur in North America and the 

 East Indies, and several in Africa. Illustrative Genera : — Passi- 

 flora, J ass. ; Tacsonia, Juss. There are about 214 species. 



Properties and Uses. — Several have edible fruits, and others 

 are said to be bitter and astringent, narcotic, emmenagogue, or 

 diaphoretic. 



Order 151. Malesheebiace^, the Crownwort Order. — Dia- 

 gnosis. — This is a small order of herbaceous or somewhat shrubby 

 plants, resembling Passifloraceae, in ivhich it is included by 

 Benthain and Hooker, but they differ in never being climbers ; in 

 the want of stipules ; in the filamentous processes of the flowers 

 of that order being reduced to a short membranous ring or 

 coronet in this ; in the insertion of the styles at the back in- 

 stead of the apex of the ovary ; and in the peeds not being 

 arillate. 



Distribution and Numbers. — They are all natives of Chili 

 and Peru. Illustrative Genera : — Malesherbia, B. et P. ; Gyno- 

 pleura, Cav. These are the only genera ; they include -5 

 species. 



Properties and Uses. — Altogether unknown. 



Order 152. Papayace*, the Papaw Order. — Character. — 

 Trees ox shrubs, sometimes with an acrid milky juice. Leaves 

 alternate, on long stalks, lobed. Flowers unisexual, or rarely 

 perfect. Calyx inferior, minute, 5-toothed. Corolla gamope- 

 talous, and usually without scales or filamentous corona in the 

 female flowers ; 5-lobed. The inale jiower has a few stamens 

 inserted on the corolla. Ihe female flower has a 1-celled superior 

 ovary, with 3 — 5 parietal placentas. Fruit succulent or dehis- 

 cent. Seeds numerous, albuminous, with the radicle towards 

 the hUum. This ordsr is included in Passifloracece by Bentham 

 and HooTcer. 



Distribution and Numbers. — Natives of South America and 

 the warmer parts of the Old World. Illustrative Genera : — 

 Carica, Linn. ; Modecca, Linn. There are about 26 species. 



Properties and [/ses.— Generally unimportant ; but the acrid 



