728 CCXVII. PIPERACE^. 



Tkieb I. Ctnomoeie^. — Flowers 5 or unisexual by arrest, with a distinct perianth, superior 

 in the ? , sometimes in the i . Stamens free. Anthers 2-celled, dehiscence longitudinal. Ovary 

 1-celled ; style single ; ovule solitary, pendulous. Oynomorium, Mystropetalum, Vactylanthus. 



Teibjs II. EuBALANOPHOEE*. — Perianth of the i 3-6-lobed, of the J 0. Stamens monadel- 

 phous ; anthers extrorse. Ovary 1-celled ; style 1 ; ovule petidulous, anatropous. Balanojpliora. 



Tribe III. Langsdoeffib^. — Perianth of the $ 3-lobed or of a few scales, of the ? tubular. 

 Stamens monadelphous ; anthers extrorse. Ovary 1-celled ; style 1 ; ovule 1, erect. Langs- 

 dorffia, Thonningia. 



Teibb IV. Helosidej!. — Perianth of the ^ 3-lobed or tubular or campanulate, of the ? 0. 

 Stamens monadelphous; anthers connate, bursting at the top. Ovary 1-celled; styles 2; 

 ovule 1, erect. Helosis, Phyllocoryne, Splicerorhizon, Goryncea, BJwpalocnemis. 



Teibe V. ScTBALiE^. — Perianth of the $ 3-lobed, of the ? 0. Stamens monadelphous ; 

 anthers extrorse. Ovary at first 1-celled ; styles 2 ; ovules 2, pendulous from an apical placenta 

 -which descends and divides the cell into two. Scylalium. 



Teibe VI. LoPHOPimEai. — Perianth of $ and ? 0. Stamens 2, free. Ovary and ovules 

 as in Scyhaliece. LophopJiytum, Onibrophytum, Ijatlirophytwm. 



Teibe VII. Saecophtte^. — Perianth of $ 3-lobed, of ? 0. Stamens 3, free; anthers 

 many-celled. Ovary at first 1-celled ; stigma sessile ; ovules 3, pendulous from an apical 

 placenta that descends and divides the cell into three. Sarcophyte. — Ed.] 



The parasitism of Balanophm-eee, the anatomiiial structure of their tissue, composed of cells crossed by 

 rayed scalariform vessels, and the nature of their seeds, connect them with (Jxjtinem and Rafflesiacece ; ^ but 

 they differ in habit, inflorescence, and the composition of their ovary. They have also some analogy with 

 Gurmeracece in dicliuism, apetnlisra, inflorescence, oligandry, the inferior 1-oelled and 1-ovuled ovary, the 

 pendulous ovule, albuminous seed, imdivided embryo, and astringent property. They differ in parasitism, 

 the absence of leaves, &c. 



Balanophorece principally inhabit the intertropical region of both worlds, but are not abundant any- 

 where ; one species alone {Cynomorium coccineum), the analysis of which we have taken from the learned 

 memoir of Weddell, grows on various plants of the Mediterranean shores. Another (JDaetylanthus) 

 inhabits New Zealand. Mystropetalum and Sarcophyte inhabit South Africa. The third, fourth, fifth, and 

 sixth tribes are all American, except Wuypalo(f/iemis, which is tropical Asiatic, and Thimningia, which is 

 tropical African. 



The properties of Balanophareee are more or less astringent. Cynomorium coccineum, the Fungus 

 OTcZifcrasis[of the Crusaders], has an astringent and slightly acid taste. Its reddish juice was formerly pre- 

 scribed as an infallible styptic for haemorrhage and diarrhoea. In Jamaica Sehsis has a similar reputation. 

 Sarcophyte, a Cape species, exhales a foetid odour, as do several others. Omhrophytum, which grows in 

 Peru with marvellous rapidity after rain, is named by the inhabitants Mountain Maize ; they cook the scape, 

 and eat it like mushrooms. [Candles are made from a peculiar hydrocarbon contained in a Javanese 

 BalanophoraJ] 



CCXYir. PIPMACE^, L.-C. Richard. 



Flowers ^ or dioecious, achlamydeous. Stamens 2^3-6-oo . Ovaet 1-celled 

 1-ovuled ; ovule sessile, basilar, erect, orthotropous. Beekt nearly dry. Albumen 

 feshy, dense. Embeto antitropous, apical, included in the embryonic sac ; radicle 

 superior. 



Anniaal or perennial herbs, usually succulent, or shrubs. Stems simple or 



' I regard thorn as having no affinity whatever with Rafflesiacea.—Eo. 



