CX. LAURINE^E. 
1297 
in Hernandia from the inner to the outer side. Ovary free, or in Hernandia. 
adnate, consisting of a single carpel with one ovule suspended from the apex of 
the cavity from a funicle adnate to its side, or rarely with a second small abortive 
ovule. Style simple, often very short, with a capitate disk-shaped or obliquely 
dilated stigma, 'entire or shortly and irregularly lobed. Fruit a berry or drupe, 
rarely dry or nearly so, the perianth entirely deciduous, or the tube enlarged and 
disk-shaped or cup-shaped under the fruit or more or less succulent and closing 
over it or adnate to it. Seed pendulous, with a membranous or [in Hcrnandia)' 
a hard testa, without albumen. Embryo with thick fleshy cotyledons filling the 
seed, enclosing the plumula and short superior radicle.— Trees or shrubs with 
alternate or rarely irregularly opposite leaves, more or less glandular-dotted and 
aromatic (except in Hernandia) usually entire and evergreen, or, in Cassytha, 
leafless parasitical twiners. Stipules none. Flowers usually small, in cymes 
reduced sometimes to clusters umbels or heads, the cymes solitary or arranged in 
racemes, clusters or panicles ; or, in Cassytha, the flowers singly arranged in 
spikes or racemes. 
A considerable Order, abundant in tropical Asia and America, less so in Africa, with a very 
few species penetrating into more temperate regions both in the northern and southern 
hemisphere. 
4 
Tribe I. Perseaceae. — Trees or shrubs with perfect leaves. Flowers in cymes umbels or 
clusters, which are clustered or arranged in racemes or panicles, rarely solitary Anther-valves 
opening upwards. Seeds with distinct thick and fleshy cotyledons. 
Three stamens, belonging to the inner series, with extrorse anthers. 
Anthers 2 celled. 
Stamens of the outer series (usually 6) perfect. 
Ovary more or less immersed in the perianth-tube, which completely 
encloses the fruit • . . 1. Cryptocarya. 
Ovary not immersed. Perianth completely deciduous 2. Beilschmiedia. 
Stamens of the outer series reduced to a thick prominent ring or entirely 
deficient. Perianth deciduous or scarcely enlarged under the fruit . 3. Endiandra. 
Anthers 4-celled. Stamens of the outer series (usually 6) perfect. Perianth 
scarcely enlarged under the fruit 4. Cinnamomum. 
Perianth enlarging under the fruit . 5 .?Persea. 
Tribe II. Litseaceae. — All the stamens with introrse anthers Flowers dioecious, in heads 
or umbels, with an involucre of about 4 bracts. 
Perfect stamens, 6 to 9, more or less. Perianth 4 to 6-merous C. Litsea. 
Tribe III. Cassythes e.— L eafless parasitical twiners. Flowers in spikes or racemes. 
Anther-valves opening upwards. 
Single genus 7. Cassytha. 
Suborder IV. Hern an die IE. — Trees ivith perfect leaves. Flowers monoecious, the female 
with an involucel which enlarges and encloses the fruit. Anther-valves opening laterally. Seeds, 
without albumen. 
Single genus 8. Hernandia. 
1. CRYPTOCARYA, R. Br. 
(Nut hidden in the perianth-tube.) 
(Caryodaphne, Blume.) 
Flowers hermaphrodite. Perianth segments 6, equal or nearly so. Stamens 
of the outer series 6, all perfect with introrse anthers, of the inner series 3 with 
extrorse anthers, alternating with 3 short staminodia ; glands 6 at the base of tha 
inner perfect stamens or almost as near to the outer ones opposed to them. 
Anthers all 2-celled. Ovary immersed in the perianth-tube which after flowering 
closes over the ovary, and finally becomes more or less fleshy or succulent, com- 
pletely enclosing and usually consolidated with the fruit, the limb of the perianth 
deciduous leaving a small scar at the apex or rarely persistent,— Trees or tall 
shrubs. Flowers small, in cymes arranged in axillary racemes or panicles, the 
