33 
being stationed near Autantiaceas ; but then its seed with a minute embryo in 
the base of fleshy albumen, indicates a totally different relationship. It is, 
however, to be remarked that Brown ascribes to Olax a cylindrical embryo in 
the axis of the albumen, but Roxburgh, and Wight, and Arnott, deny this, 
ascribing, however, that structure to their Ximenia? olacioides. 
Geography. A small order, consisting of tropical or nearly tropical 
shrubs, chiefly found in the East Indies, New Holland, and Africa. One only 
is known in the West Indies. None have been described from any part of 
South America, south of Dutch Guiana. 
Properties. The wood of Heisteria coccinea is the Partridge wood of the 
cabinet-makers. The drupes of Ximenia americana have a sweet aromatic taste, 
but a little rough to the palate. They are eaten in Senegal. The flowers are 
very sweet. The pulp of the fruit of Balanites segyptiaca when unripe is very 
purgative, acid, and extremely bitter ; but it becomes pleasant and eatable 
when ripe. FL Seneg. 1. 104. 
GENERA. 
Heisteria, L. Pseudaleia, Pet. Thou. Platea, Bl. 
? Balanites, Del. Pseudaleioides, Pet.Th.Stemonurus, Bl. 
Ximenia, L. ? Opilia, Roxb. Gomphandra, Wall. (5) 
Heymassoli, Aubl. Grcutia, Guillem. 
Icacina, Adr. J. 
Order XX. FRANCOACE.^. 
Galacine^, Don in Edinh. New Phil. Journ. Oct. 1828. Ed. Pr. No. 146 (1830). — 
FRANCOACEiE, de Juss. Ann. Sc. Nat. 25. 9. (1832); Lindl. in Bot. Reg. fol. 
1645. (1834); Key to Bot. 47. (1835.) 
Essential Character. — Calyx deeply four-cleft. Petals 4, inserted near the base of 
the calyx. Stamens subhypogynous, four times as numerous as the petals, alternately ru- 
dimentary. Ovary superior, with 4 cells opposite the petals ; ovules numerous ; stigma 
4-lobed sessile. Capsule membranous, 4-valved, with a loculicidal, or septicidal dehis- 
I cence. Seeds numerous, minute, with a minute embryo in the base of fleshy albumen. — 
j Stemless Herbaceous plants with lobed or pinnated leaves, without stipules. Stems scape- 
1 like with a racemose inflorescence. Petals persistent for a long time. 
Affinities. Near Saxifragacese according to Don, Rosacese in the opi- 
nion of De Candolle, Crassulacese according to Adrien de Jussieu and Hooker. 
It is true, that looking to the separation of the carpels of Francoa when ripe, 
and the abortive stamens a case in favour of the approximation of the order to 
Crassulacese may seem to be made out ; but then Tetilla does not separate its 
carpels, but divides them through the bark ; and moreover, there is no resem- 
blance either in habit or in proportionals of the flowers, or in the structure of 
the fruit, or in the organization of the seeds between that order and Fran- 
coacese. It will probably turn out that the real affinity of these plants is with 
Dionsea, which chiefly differs in its unilocular fruit, and the want of sterile 
stamens. Its seeds are absolutely the same in all essential respects, and I do 
not know that there would be any thing unnatural in actually associating that 
remarkable genus with this order. It is probable that Galax belongs in reality 
to Pyrolacese (Ad. de J.J, and consequently the order Galacineae is abolished, 
j Geography. Found in the temperate parts of South America. 
Properties. Unknown. 
GENERA. 
Francoa, Cav. 
I Tetilla, DC. 
; Dimoiphopetolum , Bert, 
R 
Olax, L. 
Roxburghia, Kon. 
Spermaxyrum, LaB. 
Fissilia, Commers. 
