628 CLXXVIir. PHYTOLACCE^. 



Nyctaginece are not closely allied to any other family ; tiey have been placed near Phytolacoea, 

 Chenopodiets, and Folygonece on account of the structure of their ovary, their curved seed and albumen ; 

 but they differ in their folded sestivation and exstipulate leaves. They have an apparent ailinity with 

 ValerianecR (as observed by A.-L. de Jussieu), through Soerhaavia, several species of which have been 

 often confounded with that family. 



Nyetaginem principally inhabit the tropical regions of the Old, and especially the New "World. 

 Abronia grows in North-west America, some Boerhuavi<s in extra- tropical Australia, and in South America. 

 BuginviUea is limited to South America. 



The roots of Nyctaginece are purgative or emetic. That of the false Jalap, or Marvel of Peru {Mira^ 

 hHis Jalapa), a tropical American plant, was long confounded with that of the true Jalap, of which it has 

 the nauseous smell. It possesses similar qualities, but is much less eificacious, and is sometimes 

 administered for dropsy, as are M. dichotoma and longiflora ; all are cultivated in our gardens. M. 

 stmveolens is recommended in Mexico for diarrhoea and rheumatic pains. The numerous species of 

 Bcerhaama furnish the Americans with emetic and purgative roots. The juice of B. hirsuta is used in 

 Brazil as a remedy for jaundice. The cooked root of B. tiiberosa is eaten in Peru ; an infusion of it is 

 ranked as an antisyphilitic. A decoction of the herbage of B. proeumberis is an Indian febrifuge. The 

 properties of Pisonia are analogous to those of Boerhaavia. 



CLXXVIII. PHYTOLACCE^. 



(Atkiplioum aectio, Jussieu. — Phttolacce^, Br. — Eivine^ et Petiveee^, Agardh. 

 — Phttolaccace^ et Petivbkiace^, Lindl. — Phttolaccace^, Endl.) 



Caltx 4f-5-]partite. Corolla usually 0. Stamens sub-hypogynous or hypogy- 

 nous, as viany as the sepals, or more numerous. Carpels several, whorled, or one ex- 

 centric, l-ovuled ; STYjj^s lateral arid ventral, hooTced. Frvvt JlesJiy or dry. Seed ereci. 

 Albumen /arwaceows, sometimes scaiity or 0, Embeto annular or curved, rarely straight; 

 EADICLE inferior. 



Heebs or TTNDEESHEUBS [rarely teees], usually glabrous. Stems cylindric, or 

 irregularly annular, rarely twining {Er cilia). Leaves alternate or rarely sub-oppo- 

 site, simple, entire, membranous or somewbat fleshy, sometimes pellucid-punctate ; 

 stipules 0, or geminate at the base of tbe petioles, free, deciduous, or changed into 

 persistent thorns. Elowees ^ or rarely dicEcious {Achatocarpus, Gyrostemon), 

 regular or sub-regular, in a spike, raceme, or glomerate cyme, axillary, terminal or 

 leaf-opposed, pedicels naked or 1-3-bracteate, Calyx 4-5-partite ; lobes herbaceous, 

 often membranous at the edge, frequently coloured on their inner surface, equal or 

 unequal,, sestivation imbricate. Coeolla usually 0, rarely of 4-5 petals {Semmivillea, 

 &c.) alternate with the sepals and inserted at their base, distinct, with narrow 

 claws. Stamens sub-hypogynous or hypogynous, inserted at the base of a disk 

 lining the bottom of the calyx, or of a somewhat convex torus, or sometimes of a 

 slender gynophore ; either equal and alternate with the sepals,- or more numerous, 

 the outer alternate, the inner opposite ; rarely united in alternate bundles ; more 

 rarely indefinite and arranged without order ; filaments filiform or dilated at the 

 base, distinct, or connate below ; anthers introrse, 2-celled, basifixed or dorsifixed, 

 erect or incumbent, dehiscence longitudinal, Caepbls several whorled, rarely 



