CCXIX. CHLORANTHACE^. 



733 



Houttuynia cordata. 



Carpel cut vertically (mag.). 



Fn 1 L i( \i_rMi__ll., (mag.). 



Gymn^theca chinensis. 

 Flower (mag.). 



Oymnotheca chinensis. 



Transverse section of 



ovary, with parietal 



placentaticiu. 



Embeto apical, situated in a superficial cavity of tlie albumen, and enclosed in the 

 persistent embryonic sac ; cotyledons very short ; radicle superior. 



Saururus. 



Houttuynia. 



GENERA. 

 Anemiopsis. 



GymnQtheca. 



Saurui'opsis. 



Sawwre<s are near Piperacece in the intrapetiolar sheath, achlamydeous flowers, and antitropous 

 embryo enclosed, at the top of the albumen, within the persistent embryonic sac; but Pipei-acecs are dis-r 

 tinguished from them by their l-carpelled 1-celled and ]-ovuled ovaiy. 



This family has been found in tropical Asia, equatorial a,ad South Africa, Japan, and extra-tropical 

 North America. Saururece possess a somewhat acrid aroma, which confirms their affinity with PiperacetB. 

 The root of Saururus cernwus, which grows in America, is boiled and applied externally in pleurodynia. 

 The herbage of Houttuynia is used as an emmenagogue in Cochin China. 



CCXIX. CHLORANTHACE^l 



(CHLOEANTHEiE, Br. CHLOBAlirTHACB^, Lindl.) 



FLOWifRS S or diclinous, achlamydeous. Ovaet 1- celled, \-ovuled ; OVTJLE pen- 

 dulous, orthotropous. Deupb fleshy. Albumem- fleshy, copious. Embeto small, 

 antitropous, apical; eadicle inferior. 



Small TEBES or undeesheubs, rarely annual heebs, aromatic, with opposite 

 jointed-knotty branches. Leaves opposite, petioled, simple, penninerved, dentate 

 or rarely entire ; petioles united into a short amplexicaul sheath, 2-stipulate on each 



