50 
in number to the petals, and opposite to them. Ovary Ucelled; ovule pendulous; style 1 
or none ; stigma simple. Fruit succulent, 1 -celled. Seed solitary, pendulous ; testa mem- 
branous ; embryo cylindrical, longer than the fleshy albumen, sometimes with no division of 
cotyledons; radicle naked, clavate, superior. — Parasitical half-shrubby plants. Leaves 
opposite, sometimes alternate, veinless, fleshy, without stipules. Flowers often monoecious, 
axillary or terminal, solitary, corymbose, or spiked. 
Affinities. In some respects near Caprifoliacese, from which they are 
readily known not only by their universally parasitical habit, but also by their 
stamens being opposite the lobes of the corolla, and not alternate with them. 
Viscum seems to bear about the same relation to Loranthus that Cornus does 
to CaprifoUaceae. Don has expressed an opinion that a connexion is estabhshed 
between this order and Araliacese, by means of Aucuba f Jamesons Journal, Jan. 
1830, p. 168), which belongs to Comaceae ; but this does not .seem clearly 
made out. Brown f Flinders, 549) suggests their relation to Proteaceae. The 
anther of Viscum is remarkable for having its substance broken up into a num- 
ber of hoUow cavities containing pollen, and not divided regularly into 2 lobes, 
each of which has a cavity containing pollen, and a longitudinal line of 
dehiscence. A good figure of this will be found in the Ann. du Musmm, vol. 12. 
t. 27. fig. E. The germination of Viscum is exceedingly remarkable. It has 
afibrded a subject for some curious experiments upon the nature of the vital 
energies of vegetables. See Dutrochet sur la Motilite, 114. Upon the whole, 
the structure of Loranthaceae seems rather that of a polypetalous than of a 
monopetalous order. Many details and excellent observations will be found in 
Blume’s Flora Javae. All the species are, without exception, parasitical, except 
Nuytsia, which, like other plants, grows attached to the soil. The adhesion of 
the petals into a monopetalous corolla is a remarkable exception to the general 
character of Polypetalae. 
Geography. Judging from the collections of systematic botanists, it 
would appear that the tropics of America contain a greater number of species 
than all the rest of the world ; but we now know, from the extensive researches 
of WaUich and Blume, that the Flora of India contains at least as large a pro- 
portion : the order would, therefore, seem to be equally dispersed through the 
equinoctial regions of both Asia and America ; but on the continent of Africa 
to be much more rare, only 2 having been yet described from equinoctial 
Africa, and 5 or 6 from the Cape of Good Hope. Two are named from the 
South Seas, and 1 from New Holland ; but this number requires, no doubt, to 
be largely increased. 
Properties. The bark is usually astringent, as in the Mistletoe of the 
Oak. The berries contain a viscid matter like birdlime, which is insoluble in 
water and alcohol. The most remarkable quality that Loranthaceae possess, howe- 
ver, is the power of rooting in the wood of other plants, at whose expense they 
live. The habits of the common Mistletoe give an idea of those of all, except 
that in the genus Loranthus the corolla is tubular and usually richly coloured 
with scarlet. 
GENERA. 
Viscum, Tourn. Loranthus, L. Loxanthera, Bl. Tupeia, Blume. 
Arceuthobium, Bieb. Lepostegeris, Bl. Gaiadendron, G. Don. 
i2rtzoMwoMJ5^za,HofF. Elytranthe, Bl. Nuytsia, R. Br. Schoepfia, Schreb. 
Misodendrum, Banks. Notanthera, G. Don. Spirostylis, Presl. Codonium, Vahl. 
Hcenkea, R. et P. 
Alliance IV. CUCURBITALES. 
Essential Character. — Placentw parietal. Flowers neither with a valvate aestivation 
of the corolla nor with any other character which appertains to the preceding alliances. 
