506 



NATURAL ARRANGEMENT. 



127. Order XLVIII. MELI A^CEiE. 



Genera 14, Species 35 ; Hot-house Species 29 ; Green-house Species 6 j Hardy Ligneous Species 0 ; 

 Hardy Herbaceous Species 0. { 0 feet ; £ 0 feet ; i 0 feet. 



The nearest affinity of this order is probably with Sapindaceas. It is particularly distinguished by the 

 6tamens being united into a tube bearing the anthers. The leaves are usually pinnated, .and most of the 

 species, which are all either trees or shrubs, are natives of tropical forests. Melia bears bunches of fine lilac, 

 colored flowers, but few of the genera are interesting on account of theix inflorescence. The qualities of the 

 different species are little known. The bark of Guurea trichilioides is said by Aublet to be purgative and 

 emetic. The pulpy fruit of Melia Azedarach is said to be poisonous ; both this part and the inner bark have 

 been used as anthelmintics either in substance or in decoction. It is asserted by Michaux, that the pulp that 

 surrounds the kernel is considered in Pekin a specific in scrophulous cases. The oil expressed from the 

 seeds of the same plant is said to have strong antispasmodic powers. Cuttings or layers. 



130. Tribe 3. CedreYe^s 



128. Tribe J. Melie\e. 



1295 TurraeV L. 



1296 Quivisia Cav. 

 1294 Sand6ricum Cav. 

 1293 itfelia L. 



129. Tribe 2. Trichilie\e. 



1292 Trichina L. 



1301 Ekeb^rgm Spar. 

 1167 Guarea L. 



1302 Hefnea Rox. 



1297 

 1298 

 1299 

 1300 

 3344 



Cedrela L. 

 Swietem'rt L. 

 Chloroxylon Dec. 

 Flindersm R. Br. 

 Carapa Aub. 

 Wallsura Rox. 



131. Order XLIX. AMPELI'DEiE. 



Genera 4, Species 53 ; Hot-house Species 31 ; Green-house Species 6 ; Hardy Ligneous Species 16 ; 

 Hardy Herbaceous Species 0. 1 13 ft. ; £0 feet ; =*= 0 feet. 



The vine is the type and representative of this order. Cissus and Ampelopsis differ little from it in botanical 

 characters, and not at all in habit. The common grape is the only species that bears really good fruit ; the 

 American kinds, with large fleshy berries, being spoiled by a disagreeable foxy flavor, which is not found to 

 be removed by cultivation. Cuttings. 



132, 



Tribe 1. Vini'ferjE, or Sar- 



MENTa'"cE2E. 



lig. 16. kerb. 0. £ 13 feet. 

 400 Cissus L. 



656 Ampelupsis Mx. 

 655 VltisL. 



133. Tribe 2. 

 594 Leea L. 



LEEA^EiE. 



134. Order L. GERANIATE.E. 



Genera 5, Species 366 ; Hot-house Species 3 ; Green-house Species 276 ; Hardy Ligneous Species 0 ; 

 Hardy Herbaceous Species 87. £ 0 feet ; £ 15 feet j ^ 0 feet. 



The Geraniums are well known to all gardeners for their beauty, and the facility with which hybrid 

 varieties are produced among them. Geranium and Erodium are chiefly natives of the northern hemisphere, 

 and Pelargbnium of the southern. Different as they appear from Vinifera? in most respects, there are some 

 points in which a curious resemblance may be found between the two orders. The young stems of both are 

 articulated and separable at the articulations ; and the lower leaves are opposite, while the upper ones are 

 alternate. In Geraniacea? no tendrils are produced, but. the peduncles are opposite to the leaves, as in / itis, 

 and occupy the place of tendrils. M. Decandolle observes, that of the true Geraniaceee, some are slightly 

 acid, especially those of which the leaves and bark are succulent ; several exhale a resinous smell which is 

 sometimes agreeable, but occasionally so powerful as to be unpleasant. The resinous principle is so abundant 

 in Sarcocafilon L'Heritiere, that its stem burns like a torch, and exhales an agreeable perfume. The most 

 common property of European geraniums is to be astringent, which is chemically determined by their juice 

 being blackened by sulphate of iron ; this is particularly remarkable in G. Robertianum and sanguineum, 

 which are both accounted vulnerary, and in E. moschatum, G. pratense, and others, in which it is united to a 

 slight aromatic principle, whence they have been recommended for various purposes, and among others for 

 removing calculous disorders. The astringent property of the geraniums is also present in G. maculatum, 

 which grows in much abundance about Philadelphia ; the root of this plant, boiled in milk, is used for the 

 cholera in children. Barton is of opinion, that it would be a good substitute for gum kino in nephritis and 

 obstinate diarrhoeas. Cuttings, division, or seeds ; or sometimes by cuttings of the roots. 



135. Tribe 1. Geranie\e. 

 lig. 0. herb. 87. £ 15 feet. 

 1992 Sarcocaulon Dec. 



1991 Monsbma L. 

 1932 Geranium Herit. 

 1927 Erodium Herit. 



136. Tribe 2. Pelargonie\e. 

 1929 Pelargbnium Herit. 



137. Order LL TROPiEO'LEiE. 



Genus 1, Species 11 ; Hot-house Species 1 ; Green-house Species 7 ; Hardy Ligneous Species 0 j 

 Hardy Herbaceous Species 3. ± 0 feet ; j£ 3 feet ; ± 0 feet. 



These are climbing or trailing herbs with handsome solitary axillary flowers, and fleshy stems and leaves. 

 They are distinguished from Geraniaceasby their stamens being separate, and not agreeing in number with the 

 petals ; by their axillary flowers, and fleshy indehiscent fruit. It is very curious, that this is the only order 

 in which the peculiar acrid flavour of Cruciferee is found to exist. Tropa2\)lum pentaph^llum, with probably 

 other species, is a powerful antiscorbutic. All are natives of shady places in various parts of South America. 

 The roots of some are fleshy and eatable. Seeds or cuttings. 



1148 Tropae\)lum L. 0 3 



138. Order LII. BALSAMI'NEiE. 



Genera 2, Species 19 ; Hot-house Species 2 ; Green-house Species 9 ; Hardy Ligneous Species 0 ; 

 Hardy Herbaceous Species 8. ± 0 feet ; £ 7 feet ; =fe 0 feet 



The flower of this order has been remarked by a learned botanist to be that of Fumariacea?, the capsule of 

 O'xalis, the embryo of iinum, and the habit peculiar. The well-known elastic spring with which the seeds 

 are ejected constitutes a principal character of the order. All the species are annuals, with the exception of 

 Impitiens fruticosa ; they delight in moist hot situations, generally within the tropics ; and are remarkable 

 for the singularity and varied colors of their flowers. Seeds, and sometimes by cuttings. 



697 ZMsamlna BAv. \ 698 Imp&tiens Riv. 0 *8 



