38 
Alliance II. MYKTALES. 
Essential Character. — Mstivation not valvate. Placenta! occupying the centre of 
the fruit. Parts of the flower not a regular multiple of any number throughout. In most 
cases shrubby plants or trees. 
This alliance is connected with the last through Myrtales, some of which 
approach the genus Fuchsia, and with Cucurbitales by way of Cactacese, which 
are in some respects succulent Myrtacese. The relation of Myrtales to Cornales 
is less obvious ; but at the same time it does not appear that the orders com- 
prehended under the latter alliance are nearer to any other polypetalous plants. 
The transition probably occurs between Alangiaceae and Hamamelacese. 
Order XXIII. COMBRETACEJE. The Myrobalan Tribe. 
CoMBRETACE/E, f?. Browu Prodr. 351 . (1810), incidentally without a character; in Flin- 
ders, 2. 548. (1814) ; A. Rich. Diet. Class. 4. 353. (1823) ; DC. Prod. 3. 9. (1828) ; 
Memoire (1828) ; Bartl. Ord. Nat. p. 322. (1830) ; Martins Conspectus, No. 177. 
(1835). — Myrobolane^e, Juss.Dict. Sc. Nat. 31. 458. (1824.) 
Essential Character. — Calyx superior, with a 4- or 5-lobed deciduous limb. Petals 
arising from the oriflee of the calyx, alternate with the lobes ; sometimes wanting. Stamens 
arising from the same part, twice as many as the segments of the calyx, very rarely equal 
to them in number, or 3 times as many ; filaments distinct, subulate ; anthers 2-celled, 
bursting longitudinally. Ovary 1 -celled, with from 2 to 4 ovules, hanging from the apex 
of the cavity ; style 1 ; stigma simple. Fruit drupaceous, baccate, or nut-like, 1 -celled, by 
abortion 1 -seeded, indehiscent, often winged. Seed pendulous, without albumen; embryo 
with the radicle turned towards the hilum ; plumule inconspicuous ; cotyledons leafy, 
usually convolute, occasionally plaited. — Trees or shrubs. Leaves alternate or opposite, with- 
out stipules, entire. Spikes axillary or terminal. 
Anomalies. Often apetaJous. 
Affinities. “ These may be placed indifferently in the vicinity of 
Santalacese and Elseagnacese, or of Onagraceae and Myrtaceae, approaching the 
former by the apetalous genera, and the latter by those which have petals.” 
DC. To Myrtaceae and Melastomaceae they are related through Memecylaceae, 
and especially to the former, by Punica, with which they agree in the structure 
of their embryo. In the latter respect they also accord with Rhizophoraceae 
and Vochyaceae ; and with Alangiaceae and Onagraceae in the general structure 
of the flower. With Santalaceae and Elaeagnaceae the apetalous genera agree 
in many important particulars. On account of their convolute cotyledons and 
inferior fruit they have been supposed to approach Lauraceae through Gyro- 
carpus. The solitary carpel of which the fruit consists is peculiar to these 
and Alangiaceae, and neatly distinguishes those two orders from all others of 
the Myrtal alliance. 
Geography. All natives of the tropics of Asia, Africa, and America. No 
species is extra- tropical. 
Properties. Mostly astringents. Bucida Buceras yields a bark used for 
tanning. The bark of Conocarpus racemosa, one of the plants called Mangroves 
in Brazil, is used greatly at Rio Janeiro for tanning. Pr. Max. Trav. 206. The 
fruit of the Terminalia beUerica, or the BeUeric Myrobalan, is an astringent, 
tonic, and attenuant. Ainslie, 1 . 236. The bark of Terminalia alata is astringent 
and antifebrile. Ibid. 2. 193. The fruit of Terminalia Chebula, as well as the 
galls of the same plant, are very astringent, and highly valued by dyers : with 
alum they give a durable yellow, and with a ferruginous mud an excellent 
