348 LXVI. EHAMNEtE. 



into 2 valves by an arched slit. Ovary free, or buried in the disk, or more or 

 adnate to the calyx-tube, of 3-2-4 1-2-ovuled cells ; styles equal in number to the 

 cells, more or less connate ; stigmas simple, distinct or connate ; ovules usually 

 solitary in each cell, erect, sessile or funicled, anatropous. Fetjit superior or 

 inferior, rarely 1 -celled by suppression, sometimes an indehiscent fleshy spongy or 

 membranous drupe, sometimes winged, with a hard fibrous or woody 2-3-celled 

 endocarp, sometimes a capsule with 2-3 crustaceous cocci separating at the top, 

 pendulous from the axis, and opening when ripe at the base of their inner edge. 

 Seeds erect ; testa loose, raphe lateral or dorsal, chalaza thick ; albumen fleshy, 

 scanty. Embeto large, straight, yellow or green ; cotyledons flat, fleshy ; radicle 



short, inferior. 



PRINCIPAL GENERA. 



Paliui'us. Zizyphus. Hovenia. Rhanmus. Ceanotlius. Pliylica. Pomaderris. 



[Conspectus of the tribes and genera, from the ' Genera Plantarum ' of Bentham 

 and Hooker fll. : — 



Tribe I. VENTiLAGiNEJi.^Ovary superior or semi-superior. Disk filling the calyx-tube. 

 Fruit dry, 1-celled, 1-seeded, girt at the base or up to the middle by the calyx-tube. Seeds 

 exalbuminous. — Unarmed climbing shrubs, i/eaves altei'nate. Ventilago, Smyihea. 



Teibe II. ZiZTPHB.s;. — Ovary superior or semi-superior. Disk filling the calyx-tube. 

 Drupe dry or fleshy, girt at the base or up to the middle by the calyx-tube ; endocarp 1-3-- 

 celled. Paliurus, Gondalea, Beschemia, Ziayphiis, Sarcomphalus, Karwinsleia, Microrhamnus. 



Tribe III. E.HAMNE.a!. — Ovary inferior or superior. Disk various or 0. Fruit dry or 

 drupaceous, containing 3-4 cocci or pyrenes. RJiamnus, Ceanothus, Golubrina, Trymaliuvi, 

 Hovenia, Smtla, Phyliaa, Spyridiujii, Sageretia, AlpMtonia, Gryptandra, Pomaderris. 



Teibe IV". Coi.letiejs. — Ovary free or semi-superior. Calyx-tube deep, produced much 

 beyond the disk. Stamens inserted on its mouth. Fruit coriaceous, of 2-3 cocci or a 1-3- 

 celled drupe. — Trees or shrubs, often spinescent. Leaves opposite or small or 0. Colletia, 

 Discaria, Retanilla, Trevoa, Talguenea. 



Teibe V. GouANiEiE. — Ovary inferior. Disk various. Fruit coriaceous, containing 3 

 cocci, usually 3-gonous or 3-alate. — Shrubs. Leaves alternate, often broad. Grumenaria, 

 Oouania, Helinus, BeisseJcia. — Ed.] 



The affinities of lihamnece Tfith Cclastriiiea and Ampelidece will be found under these families. Those 

 with AraliacecB are the same as with Ampelidece. They also approach Eloeagnem in the valvate calyx, 

 stamens inserted alternately with the sepals (at least in the isostemonous flowers) on a perigynous disk, 

 the erect anatropous ovule, albuminous straight axile embryo, woody stem, usually alternate leaves, and 

 axillary flowers. But Elaiagneee are apetalous (which is also the case with some Rhamnem), their ovary 

 is one-celled and -ovuled, their leaves are covered with scales, and are exstipulate. The same analogies 

 and diff'erences are observable between lihamnece and Proteacece, and the latter also differ in the entire 

 absence of albumen. 



EJiamnece inhabit the moderately hot regions of all countries of both hemispheres ; they are not rare 

 in the torrid zone, but are never met with in glacial regions. [Colleliecs, so remarkable for their 

 leafless hrancheswith cruciate spines, are wholly South American, New Zealand, and Australian. 



Of all the genera in this family, the most useful to man are Rhamnus and Zizyphus. Rhamnus cathar- 

 ticus bears berries which contain a bitter prirciple, much used in the form of a purgative syrup. The fruits 

 of many allied species (especially i?. infectorius) yield a yellow or green colour, and as dyes are the objects of 

 a considerable commerce. R. utilis and chlorophorus produce Chinese green. The bark of R. catharticus m, 



