234 XV. CAPPAEIDE^. 



Cadaba), often in multiples of 6 or 8, all fertile, or some sterile {Dactylwna, Cleome, 

 Polanisia, &c.) ; filaments filiform, sometimes thickened at tlie top {Cleome), free or 

 united to the torus, or connate at the base {Gynandropsis, Cadaba, Boscia, &c.) ; 

 anthers introrse, 2-celled, oblong or ovoid, basi-dorsally fixed, dehiscence longi- 

 tudinal. OvAET usually stipitate, rarely sessile, 1-celled, or sometimes 2-8-celled by 

 false septa springing from the placentas [Morisonia, Gapparis, Tovaria, &c.) ; style 

 usually short or 0, simple (3, and hooked in Roydsia) ; stigma usually orbicular, 

 sessile ; ovules numerous, fixed to parietal placentas, campylotropous or semi-anatro- 

 pous, rarely solitary (Apophyllum). Fbttit a capsule, siliquose and 2-val7ed, or a 

 berry, very rax-ely a drupe {Roydsia). Seeds reniform or angular, often sunk in the 

 pulp of the fleshy fruits, exalbuminons, or very rarely albuminous {Tovaria) ; testa 

 smooth, coriaceous or crustaceous. Bmbeto curved or arched ; cotyledons incumbent 

 or accumbent, folded, coiled or indupjicate, rarely flat. 



Teibe I, GLEOMEM. 

 Fruit a 1-celled capsule, usually siliquose. Mostly annual herbs. 



PBINCrpAL GENEEA. 

 * Cleome. Isomeris. * Polanisia, * *Gynandropsi3. 



Tbibe II. GAPPAREM. 

 Fruit a berry or drupe. Shrubs or trees. 



NERA. 



Eitchiea. 



Cappartdea approach Crucifei'CB in the numher of sepals, petals and stamens, the cestivation, the 

 ovaiy with parietal plaoentation, with or without a false septum, the campylotropous ovules, siliquose 

 fruit, exalhuminous seed, curved emhr3-o, and acrid volatile principles. They scarcely differ, except in the 

 sometimes perigyuoiis insertion, the never tetradynamous stamens, the usually stipitate ovary, and the 

 often fleshy fruit. They are equally closelj' allied to Moringeee (which see).. They also resemble TropcBohm 

 in their habit, exalhuminous seed, and acrid principle. Hesedacece are separated only by their habit and 

 the structure of their fruit. Capparidece are distributed nearly equally over the tropical and subtropical 

 regions of both hemispheres ; the frutescent species are mostly American.'' 



The herbaceous capsular Capparidece rival Cruciferce in their stimulating properties, which depend on 

 an acrid volatile principle. The species with fleshy fruit, which are mostly woody, possess this acridity 

 in their roots, leaves and herbaceous parts; their bark is bitter, and some have a pleasant fruit. Cleome 

 gigmitea is used as a rubefacient in tropical America. The herbage of Gynandropsis pentaphylla, a native 

 of the tropics in both worlds, has the qualities of CocMearia and Lepidium, and its oily seed is as acrid as 

 that of Sinapis. Polanisia fellina and icosandra, natives of India, are epispastics and vermifuges; the 

 fresh juice is used as a condiment. Cleome lieptaphylla and polygama, American plants, have a balsamic 

 odour, whence they have been reputed vulneraries and stomachics. Polanisia graveolens, a native of North 

 America, and a very foetid plant, possesses the same qualities as Chenopoditim anthelminthicum. 



Among the Capparidece with fleshy fruit, Capparis spinosa must rank first. It is a shrub of the 

 Mediterranean region, the bitter, acrid and astringent bark of whose root has been esteemed from the 

 most ancient times for its aperient and diuretic qualities. The flower-buds, preserved in salt and vinegar, 



' Tovaria has been transferred to Papaviracece by Eichlor. — En. 

 '' As many are natives of the old world as of the new. — En. 



