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Order XXXVII. HOMALIACE.E. 
HoMALiNEiE, R. Brown in Congo, (1818); DC. Prodr. 2. 53. (1825.) 
Essential Character. — Calyx funnel-shaped, superior, with from 5 to 15 divisions. 
Petals alternate with the segments of the calyx, and equal to them in number. Glands 
present in front of the segments of the calyx. Stamens arising from the base of the petals, 
either singly or in threes or sixes ; anthers 2-celled, opening longitudinally. Ovary half - 
inferior, 1 -celled, with numerous ovules; styles from 3 to 5, simple, filiform, or subulate ; 
ovules attached to as many parietal placentae as there are styles. Fruit berried or capsular. 
Seeds small, oyate, or angular, with an embryo in the middle of fleshy albumen. — Trees or 
shrubs. Leaves alternate, vjith deciduous stipules, toothed or entire. Flowers in spikes, 
racemes, or panicles. 
Anomalies. It is said there are no glands in Napimoga. Astranthus is said to have 
a superior ovary ; but this requires confirmation. 
Affinities. According to Brown, related to Passifloracese, especially to 
Smeathmannia, from which, however, their inferior ovary distinguishes them, to 
say nothing of their general want of stipules and glands on the leaves, of the 
presence of glands at the base of the floral envelopes, and of their erect and 
very difierent habit. With Malesherbiaceae they agree and disagree much as 
with Passifloraceae. From Rosaceae, Bixaceae, and Flacourtiaceae, to all which 
they have a greater or less degree of affinity, they differ in many obvious par- 
ticiflars. ’De Candolle places them between Sarny daceae and Chailletiaceae, 
describing them as apetalous, but classing them with his Dichlamydeae ; 
Brown also understands them as without petals ; but I confess I cannot com- 
prehend what petals are, if the inner series of the floral envelopes of these 
plants be not so ; an opinion which their supposed affinity with Passifloraceae 
would confirm, if analogy could be admitted as evidence in cases which can be 
decided without it. I may remark, that the statement of De Candolle, that 
the stamens are opposite the sepals {Prodr. 3. 53.) is inaccurate; they are, as 
Brown describes them {Congo), opposite the petals. 
Geography. All tropical, and chiefly African or Indian. Four or five 
species are described from the West Indies and South America. 
Properties. Unknown. 
Homalium, Jacq. 
Acoma, Adans. 
Racoubea, Aubl. 
Napimoga, Aubl. 
GENERA. 
Blackwellia, Comm. Pineda, R. et P. Eriudaphus, N. ab Es. 
Vermontea, Comm. Nisa, Pet. Thou. (10)* 
Astranthus, Lour. Myriantheia,Pet,Thou. Adenobasium, Presl. 
Alliance V. FICOIDALES. 
Essential Character. — Petals extremely narrow and numerous ; placentation not 
parietal. 
Notwithstanding the resemblances of the only order that belongs to this 
alhance and the foregoing, the central placentation completely separates them. 
By most botanists a number of apetalous genera are admitted here ; but they 
seem in reality to have far more affinity with Chenopodiaceae. 
