436 C. ONAGRAEIE^. 



longitudinal. Otakt adhering to the receptacular cup (calyx-tube), forming 2 



superimposed rows, the lower 3-celled with central placentation, the upper 5-7-celled 



with parietal placentation ; style filiform, simple ; stigma capitate ; ovules numerous, 



anatropous. Bekkt spherical, crowned by the calyx-limb, cells separated by 



membranous septa. Seeds numerous, integument full of an acid pellucid pulp. 



Embryo exalbuminous, straight ; cotyledons foliaceous, convolute ; radicle oblong, 



short, pointed. 



ONLY GENUS. 



Punica. 



The fruit of the Pomegranate is prohably monstrous, and analogous to certain fruits singularly 

 modified by cultivation, as the Tomato (Lycopersicum esculentum), and that variety of Orange called 

 ' Bizarrerie ' or ' MoUarose.' [The Pomegranate is indigenous in Upper India, where its fruit altogether 

 resembles that of the cultivated state. — Ed.] 



The genus Punica is very near M^rtacece (see that family). The single species of which it is com- 

 posed (P. Ch-anatwn) is a native of Mauritania,'' whence its name of Punica. It grows all along the 

 shores of the Mediterranean, and extends thence throughout the temperate regions of the world ; its 

 fruit (Pomegranate) is covered with a coriaceous bark, called ' malicor,' very rich in tannin, and used by 

 curriers ; its pulpy seeds are refreshing. Its flowers, called Balaustnim, were formerly administered as 

 a vermifuge ; but its anthelminthic properties principally exist in the bark of its root. This bark 

 contains an astringent substance, with a mild and an acrid principle, which latter destroys tapeworm. 



C. ONAGRARIEyE. 



(Epilobiaoe^, Ventenat. — Onageaob^, Lindl. — Onageb^, Spach. — (ENOTHEBE.a;, 



Endl.) 



Co'elO'LJjA polypetalous, epigynous, contorted in bud. Stamens inserted with the 

 petals, equal or double them in number, rarely fewer. Ovart inferior, many-celled, 

 many- [rarely few-) ovuled. Embeto exalbuminous. 



Terrestrial or aquatic heebs, or sheubs. Leaves opposite or alternate, simple, 

 penninerved, entire or toothed, exstipulate. Plowees 2, usually regular, often 

 fugacious, axillary and solitary, or racemed or spiked. Calyx herbaceous or 

 coloured; limb 4- (rarely 3-2-) partite, persistent or deciduous, valvate in bud. 

 Petals (very rarely 0) inserted on the top of the calyx-throat, on an epigynous, 

 flat or annular glandular disk, alternate with the calyx-segments, more or less 

 distinctly clawed, sometimes emarginate or bifid, contorted in bud. Stamens 

 inserted with the petals, either equal in number and alternate, or double and 1-2- 

 seriate, rarely fewer ; filaments filiform or subulate, free ; anthers 2-celled, introrse, 

 dehiscence longitudinal ; pollen of trigonous granules, often cohering by threads. 

 Ovaey inferior, often crowned by the glandular edge of the disk, usually 4t- (rarely 

 2-) celled ; style filiform ; stigmas as many as cells, linear, papillose on their inner 



' A. do Candolle (' Gfcgraphie Botauique,' ii. 891) Africa only in a cultivated state. It ranges in a ■wild 

 rightly points out that the Pomegranate exists in North state from Asia Minor to the Punjab Himalaya. — En. 



