252 XXV. FEANKENIACE^. 



smaller, 2 anterior larger, posterior often largest, spm-red or gibbous at the base. 

 Petals hypogynous, or inserted on tbe top of the calyx-tube, 1, 3, or rarely 5, 

 when one is protruded between the anterior sepals, clawed, blade obcordate, aestivation 

 convolute. Stamens Inserted with the petals, usually 1 fertile, the rest imperfect 

 (except Lightia and Trigonia) ; filaments usually thick, excrescent, subulate ; anthers 

 oblong-linear or linear-cordate, connective thickened, cells sub-distant, including the 

 style. OvAET free, rarely adnate to the sepals, often oblique and inserted by a 

 broad base ; style simple, subulate, filiform, or gradually dilated upwards ; stigma 

 capitate, truncate or oblique, entire or obscurely lobed ; ovules twin, collateral, 

 or 00 2-seriate, usually inserted in the axis, ascending or pendulous, micropyle 

 superior, raphe ventral. Feuit usually capsular (a winged samara in Erisma), 

 oblong, terete or trigonous, coriaceous, loculicidally or septicidally 3-valved ; valves 

 coriaceous after parting from the seed-bearing axis, endocarp often parting from the 

 epicarp. Seeds 1, few or many, sometimes imbricate in 2 series, often winged ; testa 

 membranous or coriaceous, often hairy or cottony ; albumen 0, fleshy in Trigonia. 

 Embbto straight ; cotyledons flat, wrinkled, or membranous and convolute ; radicle 

 short or long, superior. 



PRINCIPAL GENERA. 

 Callisthene. Qualia. Erisma. . Vochysia. Trigonia. Lightia. 



VochydacecB were placed by De Candolle amongst Calydflorm next Onagranem, but by Lindley near 

 Polygahm with more reason. Lightia presents various points of analogy with ClirysohalanecB ; and Erisma 

 with Dipterocarpeai, in its fruit, convolute petals, often contorted or folded cotyledons, and resinous juice. 



The order is wholly tropical American ; of its properties nothing is known. 



XXV. FRANKENIACE^, Saint-Bilaire. 



Calyx tubular, 4-S-fid. Petals 4-5, hypogynous, equal, long-clawed. Stamens 

 usually 6, hypogynous. Ovaet free, with 3-4-2 -parietal placentas. Style 3-4-2- 

 partite at the top. Capsule 0/3-4 valves, bearing at the base seeds with floury albumen. 

 Embeyo straight, axile. 



Stem herbaceous or suffruticose. Beanchbs many, terete, jointed at the nodes. 

 Leaves opposite, small, entire, subsessile or petioled, often fascicled when j'oung, 

 exstipulate. Flowees ^ , regular, pink or violet, solitary in the forks of the 

 branches, sessile, or in a terminal dense leafy cyme. Calyx monosepalous, tubular, 

 persistent, 4-6-lobed, sestivation induplicate-valvate. Petals 4-6, inserted on tlie 

 receptacle, long-clawed, free, imbricate in testivation, claw with an adnate scale in 

 front, limb spreading. Stamens usually 6, sometimes 4-5-oo , hypogynous, free, or 

 connate at the base into a very short ring ; filaments filiform or flattened ; anthers 

 extrorse, versatile, didymous or ovoid, cells parallel, opening longitudinally. Ovaey 

 free, sessile, 3-4-gonous, 1-ceIled, with 3 or sometimes 4 parietal slender placentas ; 

 style filiform, with as many branches as placentas, branches stigmatiferous inside at 

 the top; ovules oo, 2-seriate, semi-anatropous, micropyle inferior, funicle long. 



