258 
POLYPETALOUS ORDEES. 
433. RuTACE^, the Rue Tribe. — Herbs^ sTirubs^ or trees. Learns 
opposite or alternate, simple or pinnate, without stipules, cov- 
ered with pellucid resinous dots. Flowers perfect, axillary or 
terminal, regular or irregular. Sepals 4 or 5. Petals^ the same 
number as the divisions of the calyx, aestivation usually twisted. 
Stamens as many, or 2 or 3 times as many as the petals, inserted 
on the outside of a hypogynous disk. Ovary sessile or stalked, 
its lobes equal to the number of petals, or fewer ; styles united, 
or separate only at the base. Fruit composed of several cap- 
sules, which are dehiscent at one or both sutures. Seeds few, 
mostly with albumen ; errtbryo curved. 
a. Properties : remarkable for strong and unpleasant odor, and bitterness. 
Genus. — Ruta. 
484. Xanthoxylacejs, the Prickly-Ash Tribe. — Trees or 
shrubs. Leaves punctate with pellucid dots, without stipules. 
Flowers polygamous or dioecious. Sejpals 3-9. Petals as many 
as the sepals, or wanting. Stamens equal to the petals in num 
ber, or twice as many. Ovary made up of 2 or more carpels, 
combined or distinct ; styles more or less distinct, according to 
the degree of cohesion of the carpels. Fruit berried or mem- 
braneous, 2-5-celled, sometimes consisting of several drupes, or 
2-valved cajDSules. Seeds solitary or twin, pendulous, with a 
smooth and shining crustaceous testa ; e7nbryo large, lying with- 
in fleshy albumen ; cotyledons ovate, flat. 
a. Properties : pungent, aromatic, bitter, and stimulant. 
Genera. — Xanthoxylum, Ptelea. 
435. ANACARDiACEiE, the Cashew Tribe. — Ti^ees or shrubs 
Leaves alternate, without stipules. Flowers small, often polyg- 
amous or dioecious. Sepals 3-5, united at the base. Petal? 
as many as the sepals. Stamens equal in number to the petal? 
and alternate with them, or twice as many. Ovary one-celled ; 
ovule solitary. Fruit a berry or drupe. Seed' destitute of albu- 
men ; embryo curved. 
a. Properties : plants of this order are characterized by an acrid resinous juice 
uaed in varnishes ; fruit sometimes edible. 
Genus. — Rhus. 
436. Amyridace^, the Amyris Tribe. — Trees or shruhs^ 
abounding in balsam or resin. Leaves alternate or oppo- 
site, compound. Calyx persistent, regular, with 2 to 5 di- 
visions. Petals 3-5. Stamens twice as many as the petals. 
Dish orbicular or annular. Ovary 1 to 5 celled, sessile. Fruit 
dry, 1-5-celled. Seeds exalbuminous ; cotyledons fleshy or 
wrinkled. 
Genus. — Amyris, 
