122 
occasionally rather] unequal, very seldom wanting. Stamens 10, alternate with the petals, 
seldom fewer, occasionally solitary; filaments either distinct, or partly monadelphous ; 
anthers roundish. Ovarxj 1, usually 3-lobed, formed of 3 carpels, more or less combined ; 
styles 3, distinct or combined ; ovules suspended. Fruit dry or berried, 3-celled or 3-lobed, 
occasionally 1- or 2-celled by abortion. Seeds solitary, pendulous, without albumen; 
embryo more or less cur\’^ed, or straight; radicle short; lobes leafy or thickish. — Small 
trees or shrubs, sometimes climbing. Leaves opposite, scarcely ever alternate, simple, with- 
out dots, with stipules mostly. Flowers in racemes or corymbs. Pedicels articulated in 
the middle, with 2 minute bracts. 
Anomalies. Styles sometimes distinct. Leaves in an African species alternate. Petals 
occasionally wanting. 
Affinities. Distinguished from Aceracese by the ungtiiculate petals, the 
glandular calyx, and the symmetrical flowers. Brown remarks, that the in- 
sertion of the ovule is always towards its apex, or considerably above its mid- 
dle ; and the radicle of the embryo is uniformly superior, in which point 
Banisteria ofiers no exception to the general structure, although Gsertner has 
described its radicle as inferior. Congo, 426. Tlie claws to the petals and the 
samaroid fruit, distinguish the order readily from those in its neighbour- 
hood. Those genera of Hippocrateee, which have a similar fruit, have sessile 
petals. 
Geography. Almost exclusively found in the equinoctial parts of Ame- 
rica ; of 180 species enumerated by De Candolle, only 5 are East Indian, 1 
is fomid at the Cape, 1 in Arabia, and 5 in equinoctial Africa, or the conti- 
guous islands. 
Properties. Little is known of this subject. The wood of some kinds is 
bright red. The fruit of many is eaten in the West Indies ; the hairs of a few 
species are painfully pungent. The bark of Malp. Moureila, according to 
Aublet, is employed in Cayenne as a febrifuge. The bark of the Chapara Man- 
teca, Malpighia crassifolia, is astringent, and is used in infusion or decoction 
taken inwardly, as an antidote to the Rattlesnake bite. It is also employed 
successfully as a remedy for abcesses in the lungs. Edinh. N. Ph. Journal, 
June, 1830, p. 169. 
GENERA. 
§ 1. Malpighie.®, DC. 
Malpighia, L. 
Byrsonima, Rich. 
Bunchosia, Juss. 
Galphimia, Cav. 
Caucanthus, Forsk. 
§ 2. Hiptage®, DC. 
Hiptage, Gaertn. 
Gcertnera, Schreb. 
Molina, Cav. § 3. Banisterie®,DC. Banisteria, L. 
Platynema, W. et A. Hiraea, Jacq. Heteropteris, H. B. K. 
TristeIlateia,Pet.Thou. Mascagnia, Berter. Stigmaphyllon, A.de J. 
Zymum, Noronh. Triopteris, L. Tricomaria, Hook. 
Thryallis, L. Tetrapteris, Cav. Peixotoa, A. de J. 
Aspicarpa, Rich. Vargasia, Bertero. Fimbriaria, A. St. H. 
Acosmus, Desv. Triaspis, Burch. Pterandra, A. de J. 
Gaudichaudia, H.B.K. Acridocarpus, Guill. Ancistrocladus, Wall. 
Camarea, A. St. H. Anomalopteris,G.I>on.Tainet\a., Bl. 
Sub-Order. ERYTHROXYLE.E. 
Erythroxyle®, Kunth in Humb. N. G. Am. 5. 175, (1821) ; DC. Prodr. 1. 573. (1824). 
Essential Character. — Sepals 5, combined at the base, persistent. Petals 5, 
hypogynous, broad at the base, wdth a plaited scale there, equal, the margins lying 
upon each other in aestivation. Stamens 10 ; filaments combined at the base into a cup; 
anthers innate, erect, 2-celled, dehiscing lengthwise. Ovary 1 -celled, or 3-celled, with 
2 cells spurious ; styles 2, distinct ; stigmas 3, somewhat capitate, or united almost to the 
point; ovule solitary, pendulous. Fruit drupaceous, 1-seeded. Seed angular; albumen 
corneous ; embryo linear, straight, central ; cotyledons linear, flat, leafy ; radicle superior, 
taper, straight ; plumule inconspicuous. — Shrubs or trees ; young shoots often compressed 
and covered with acute imbricated scales. Leaves alternate, seldom opposite, usually 
smooth ; stipules axillary. Flowers small, whitish or greenish. Peduncles with bracts at 
the base. 
Affinities. Separated from Malpighiaceae by Kunth on account of the 
