95 
C YE ILL A. 
Natural Order , Cyrille^.* ( Torrey and Gray , in note, 
FJor. N. Amer. L, p. 256.) Erice^e, (Jussieu.) Linncean 
Classification , Pentandria, Monogynia. 
CYRILLA.f (Richard, in Mich. Dr. Garden and Linn, 
excluding the fruit.) 
Calyx 5-parted, persistent, the divisions small, ovate-lanceolate acute. 
Petals 5, sessile, lanceolate and acute, thick and convex in the centre, 
exceeding the length of the calyx. Stamens 5, about the length of the 
petals, the filaments subulate, anthers cordate, distinct, 2-celled, opening 
longitudinally. Ovary , superior, oval, with a short style, and 2, or 
rarely 3 thick obtuse stigmas ; ovules solitary, suspended. Pericarp 
oval, small, at first somewhat fleshy indehiscent, at length suberose, 2- 
celled, the cells 1 -seeded, and the seed pendulous from the summit of 
the cells. 
* To this genus, as a natural groupe, Torrey and Grey refer also the 
Cliftonia , ( Mylocarium , Willd.,) as well as the Elliottia of Muhlenberg, 
and the whole are considered as a sub-order of Ericaceae. Of Elliottia, 
however, I conceive we know too little to be able to decide on its natural 
affinities, it will probably remain near Clethra in Ericaceae. Cliftonia 
appears to be inseparable from the Malpighiace^e. The only genus, then, 
at present embraced in this order, is that of Cyrilla, which without any 
real affinity to the Ericaceae, is allied to the Malpighiace^ by its fruit. 
The description of the genus, for the present, may be considered also as 
that of the order. The fruit of some other plant than the present, is de- 
scribed by Linnaeus, Schreber, Willdenow, L’Heritier, and Duhamel ; as 
they give a bilocular, bivalvular capsule, containing many small angular 
seeds. It is to Richard, in Michaux, that we owe the first correct descrip- 
tion of the fruit of Cyrilla. 
t In honour of Dominico Cyrilli, professor of Medicine, at Naples, and 
a botanical author. 
