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lations, which are oblong at the sides and contracted at either extremity ; embryo very 
cellular, without albumen, with a blunt round radicle next the hilum. — Herbaceous plants 
or under-shrubs, with an acid juice. Leaves alternate, toothed, oblique at the base. Stipules 
scarious. Flowers pink, in cymes. 
Affinities. These have always been considered extremely puzzling. I 
formerly supposed the order related to Hydrangese from some resemblances in 
its seeds, &c. ; others have approximated it to Polygonaceae on account of the 
stipules, 3-comered fruit, and coloured calyx. Link places the order near 
UmbeUiferse ; Von Martins next Scaevolaceae ; but the real affinities seem to be 
with Cucurbitaceae and the epigynous group in general. With Cucurbitaceae the 
order accords in the unisexual flowers, in the sinuous stamens, and peculiar 
stigmas, and even in the ternary number of the carpels ; all points of con- 
siderable importance, inasmuch as they do not often occur elsewhere. That the 
tendency of Begoniaceae is to form petals is indicated, firstly, by the coloured 
and highly developed state of the floral envelope of ordinary Begonias ; and, 
secondly, by those of Eupetalum, in which there is a distinct separation of 
petals and sepals, and by their number an approach to the proportions of 
Onagraceae, with which Begoniaceae have probably a considerable affinity. 
Geography. Common in the West Indies, South America, and the East 
Indies. Brown remarks, that no species has been found on the continent of 
Africa, though several have occurred in Madagascar and the Isles of France 
and Bourbon, and 1 in the island of Johanna. Congo, 464. 
Properties. The roots are astringent and slightly bitter. Those of 
2 species are employed in Peru with success in cases of a flux of blood, or in 
other visceral diseases in which astringents are employed. They are also said 
to be useful in cases of scurvy, and in certain fevers. 
GENERA. 
Begonia, L. Eupetalum, (11). 
Group III. 
Essential Character. — Placentae parietal, or, which is the same thing, arising from 
the base of carpels combined into a one-celled ovary. 
These plants possess common characters that are never overlooked in anv 
plan of arrangement that is not artificial. The early part of the group consists 
of portions of De Candolle’s thalamiflorous plants better brought together, and 
the remainder is composed of orders that are separated by their perigynous 
stamens, although combined by every other peculiarity. The only orders upon 
the correctness of whose position doubt can be thrown are Moringacese, 
Samydaceae, and Passifloraceae. Of Moringaceae so little is known that they 
cannot affect the arrangement either one way or the other ; Samydaceae are 
extremely like Smeathmannia among Passifloraceae, and certain Bixaceae and 
Flacourtiaceae, which are equally apetalous, and have no better position. With 
regard to Passifloraceae, it is true that they are very near Cucurbitaceae ; but so 
they are Violaceae, and upon the whole they may be best considered in this 
order as formations analogous with that of Cucurbitales in the bordering group 
of Epigynosae. A great many genera of this group are apetalous. 
