642 



CLXXXIII. PAEONYCHIE^. 



basal, solitarj-, ciirvei, micropyle downwards. Feuit indehiscent, enveloped in tlie 

 dry or succulent {Basella) calyx. Seed ovoid or sub-globose, testa membranons, 

 albwmsn farinaceous. Embryo either. coiled into a flat spiral between two layers of 

 albumen, or annular or borse shoe-shaped and surrounding a copious albumen ; 

 cotyledons plano-convex, som etimes sub-foliaoeous ; radicle descending. 



PRINCIPAL GENEBA. 



[* Emh-yo spiral, albumen exoentrio.'] 



*Basella. *Ullucus. 



[** Emhryo annular, albumen central.'] 

 Tandonia, Bouasingaultia. *Anredera. 



BaselkcB are interm ediate between Chenopodiece and Ama7-aniace(e ; they somewhat resemble Portu- 

 laoecB and certain Polygonece in their climbing stem, but they are separated from all these families by their 

 habit, their stem twinin g to the right, their persistent and often winged bracts, sagittate anthers, filaments 

 dilated below, &c . 



SasellecB are natives of America and tropical Asia. Some species of Basella, which are eaten in 

 China and India, have been introduced into Europe, and there cultivated as potherbs under the name of 

 Red Spinach {B. )7<5j-c[), and White Spinach {B. alba) ; the berries of the first yield a fine red but fugitive 

 colour. 



The starchy root of Ullucus tuberostts, which is used for food in Peru, has been introduced into France, 

 and recommended as a substitute for the Potato. 



CLXXXIII. PARONYCEIE^, Saint-Hilaire. 



Scleranlhus, 

 Vertical section of fruit ( 



Anychia dichotoma, 

 ]?lower. 



Scleranthm annvut* 



Scleranthm. 

 Hardened calyx (mag.)* 



Anychia, 

 Diagram. 



