72 
and its perigynons stamens. Others station it in the vicinity of Cistacese, from 
which it differs more in the calyx, in the insertion of the stamens, and in the 
approximation of the radicle to the hilum, than in any other character, agree- 
ing with them very much in habit. With Malvaceae the order agrees in the 
twisted aestivation of the corolla, and in habit. But with Loasaseae and Passiflo- 
raceae they have most in common : the presence of glands upon the ends of the 
petioles of Turneraceae is a confirmation of their affinity to the latter. They 
are distinguished from Loasaseae by their fruit being superior and 1 -celled, 
with parietal placentae, and by their definite stamens ; the former character is, 
however, weakened by the nearly superior fruit of some Loasaseae. 
Geography. Natives exclusively of the West Indies and South America. 
There seems no good reason for supposing Tumera trioniflora to be a native 
of Japan. 
Properties. Unknown, 
GENERA. 
Turnera, L. 
Piriqueta, Aubl. 
Burcardia, Schreb. 
Burgkurtia, Neck. 
Alliance IV. BIXALES. 
Essential Character. — Polyandrous, without any crown of sterile stamens. Leaves 
usually dotted. 
This character divides the present alliance from the last, to which it is other- 
wise most nearly related. Oncoba in Bixaceae is, in fact almost equally refer- 
able to Flacourtiaceae ; for if it agrees with this alliance in the absence of sterile 
stamens, and in the large number of the fertile ones, so does it also agree with 
Flacourtiaceae in its placentae spread all over the inside of the fruit. 
Order LIV. BIXACE.^. The Arnotto Tribe. 
Bixinea:, Kunth Diss, Malv, p. 17. (1822) ; DC. Prodr. 1. 259. (1824). 
Essential Character. — Sepals 4-7, either distinct or cohering at the base, with an 
imbricated aestivation. Petals 5, like the sepals, or wanting. Stamens indefinite, distinct, 
inserted upon a receptacle at the base of the calyx ; anthers 2-celled. Ovary superior, 
sessile, 1 -celled ; ovules proceeding from 4 to 7 parietal placentae ; style single, or in 2 or 4 
divisions. Fruit capsular, or berried, 1 -celled, many-seeded. Seeds attached to parietal 
placentae, and enveloped in pulp; albumen either fleshy or very thin; embryo included, 
either straightish or curved, with leafy cotyledons ; radicle pointing to the hilum. — Trees 
or shrubs. Leaves alternate, -.simple, entire, usually with pellucid dots ; stipules deciduous, 
one only in Azara, often wanting ; peduncles axillary, 1 -many-flowered, with bracts. 
Anomalies. Corolla often wanting. 
Affinities. The carpological characters of this order are very much 
those of Cistaceae and Homaliacese ; from the former, Bixaceje differ in the po- 
sition of their radicle, and in many other particulars ; from the latter they are 
distinguished by their hypogynous stamens, and consequently superior fruit, 
by the distinct natm'e of the sepals and petals, when the latter are present, &c. 
Their dotted leaves are remarkable among all the neighbouring orders, and 
would alone suffice to characterise them, if they were constant, but they are 
occasionally not dotted. Some of the genera were formerly referred to Rosa- 
cese ; but the affinity of that order is very weak ; the plants formerly placed in 
