Order XC. CELASTRACE^. 
Celastrine.®, R. Brown in Flinders, 22. (1814) ; DC. Prodr. 2. 2. (1825) ; Ad. Brongniart 
Memoire sur les Rhamntes, 16, (1826) ; Lindl. Synops.14. (1829). 
Essential Character. — Sepals 4 or 5, imbricated, inserted into the margin of an 
expanded torus. Petals inserted by a broad base, under the margin of the disk, with an 
imbricate aestivation. Stamens alternate with the petals, inserted into the disk, either at 
the margin or within it ; anthers innate. Disk large, expanded, flat, closely surrounding 
the ovary, covering the flat expanded torus. Ovary superior, immersed in the disk and 
adhering to it, with 3 or 4 cells; cells 1- or many-seeded; ovules ascending from the axis, 
attached to a short funiculus. Fruit superior ; either a 3- or 4-celled capsule, with 3 or 4 
septiferous valves; or a dry drupe, with a 1- or 2-celled nut, the cells of which are 1- or 
many-seeded. Seeds ascending, seldom inverted by resupination, either provided with an 
•aril, or without one ; albumen fleshy ; embryo straight ; cotyledons flat and thick, with a 
short inferior radicle. — Shrubs. Leaves simple, alternate or opposite. Flowers in axillary 
cymes. 
Anomalies. Flow’ers unisexual in Maytenus. Petals none in Alzatea. 
Affinities. Formerly confounded with Rhamnacese, this order was first 
separated by Brown, who distinguished it particularly by the relation which 
its stamens bear to the petals. It also differs in its imbricated calyx, and in 
its disk being hypogynous. According to Brongniart, Celastracese have more 
relation to several orders with hypogynous stamens than to any with perigy • 
nous ones, erpecially to Malpighiacese, to which they are related through Hip- 
pocratese, which are in fact, according to Brown, scarcely distinct from Celas- 
trace 0 e. Brong. Mem. p. 15. Manifestly akin to such genera as Phyllanthus 
in Euphorbiaceae. 
Geography. Natives of the warmer parts of Europe, North America, 
and Asia, but far more abundant beyond the tropics than within them ; a great 
number of species inhabit the Cape of Good Hope. Some are found in Chile 
and Peru, and a few in New Holland. 
Properties. I find little recorded about the properties of the species of 
this order, except a remark by De Candolle, that a decoction of the young 
branches of Maytenus is employed in Chile as a wash for swellings produced 
by the poisonous shade of the tree Lithi. Essai, 123. ed. 2. ; and a few ob- 
servations by Royle {Illustr. p. 167.) He mentions an acrid principle having 
been detected among the species, which acts with a more or less activity ; and 
the seeds of several yield an oil which is useful for burning. That of Celastrus nu- 
tans is said in India to be of a stimulant nature, and to be used in medicine. The 
bark of Evonymus tingens is in the inside of a beautiful light yellow colour, 
similar to that of some species of Rhamnus ; it is used to mark the tika on the 
forehead of Hindoos, and might be employed as a dye. It is also considered 
useful in diseases of the eye. The leaves of Celastrus edulis, Kat of the 
Arabs, would appear from Forskahl’s account, to be of a stimulating nature. 
GENERA. 
Evonymus, L. 
Celastrus, L. 
Cat ha, Forsk. 
Evonymoides, Moen. 
Hcenkea, R. et P. 
Maytenus, Feuill. 
Cyrilla, L. 
Mylocaryum, W. 
Cliftonia, Sol. 
Polycardia, Juss. 
Elaeodendron, Jacq. 
Rubentia, Commers. 
Neerija, Roxb. 
Schrebera, Retz. 
Portenschlagia, Trat. 
Ptelidium, Pet. Thou. 
Seringia, Spreng. 
Dulongia, H. B. K. 
Pleurostylia, W. et A. 
Actegeton, Bl. 
Kurrimia, Wall. 
Bhesa, Arnott. 
Wimmeria, Schlecht. 
Asterocarpus, Eckl. 
Scytophyllum, Eckl. 
Lauridia, Ecki. 
Mystroxylon, Eckl. 
Crocoxylon, Eckl. 
Fraunhoferia, Mart. 
Microtropis, Wall. 
Olinia, Thunb. (15) 
Alzatea, R. et P. 
Tralliana, Lour. 
Perrottetia, H. B. K. 
Schffiffera, Jacq. 
