130 
hypogynous scale. Ovary 4- or 5-lobed, placed upon a stalk from the base of which the 
stamens arise, 4- or 5-celled, each cell -with 1 suspended ovule ; style simple ; stigma 4- or 
5-lobed. Fruit consisting of 4 or 5 drupes arranged around a common receptacle, inde- 
hiscent. Seeds pendulous, with a membranous integument; embryo without albumen; 
radicle superior, short, drawn back within the thick cotyledons. Trees or shrubs. Leaves 
without stipules, alternate, occasionally simple, most usually compound without dots. 
Peduncles axillary or terminal. Flowers whitish, green, or purple. The different parts 
bitter. 
Affinities. Akin to Zygophyllacese in their stamens inserted upon 
hypogynous scales, and to Ochnacese in their deeply-lobed ovary, or nearly 
separate ovaries ; from these latter they are distinguished by their want of a 
succulent disk, their suspended not erect ovules, and their anthers bursting by 
longitudinal slits, not by terminal pores. A. de Jussieu says, “ They are 
known from all Rutaceous plants by the co-existence of these characters ; 
namely, ovaries with but one ovule, indehiscent drupes, exalbuminous seeds, a 
membranous integument of the embryo, and by the radicle being retracted 
within thick cotyledons.” 
Geography. All natives of tropical America, India, or Africa, with the 
exception of 1 Nipal plant. 
Properties. All intensely bitter. Tlie wood of Quassia is weU known. 
A plant called Paraiba in Brazil, the Simaruba versicolor of St. Hilaire, pos- 
sesses such excessive bitterness that no insects will attack it. Specimens of it 
placed among dried plants which were entirely devoured by the larvae of a 
species of Ptinus, remained untouched. The Brazilians use an infusion in 
brandy as a specific against the bite of serpents, and also employ it with very 
great success to cure the lousy diseases to which people are subject in those 
countries. PI. Usuelles, no 5. 
Quassia, L. 
Simaruba, Aubl. 
Simaba, Aubl. 
Aruba, Aubl. 
GENERA. 
Z wing era, Schreb. 
Phyllostemma, Neck. 
Samadera, Gaertn. 
Samandura, L. 
Locandi, Adans. 
Vittmannia, Vahl. 
Niota, Lam. 
Biporeia, Pet. Thou 
Mauduyta, Comm. 
Nima, Hamilt.^ 
Harrisonia, R. Br. 
Order C. RUTACE^E. The Rue Tribe. 
Rut^, Juss. Gen. 296. (1789) in parL— Rutace^, DC. Prodr. 1. 709. (1824).— Rute^, 
Adrien de Juss. Rutacees, 78. (1825) ; Aug. de St. Hilaire FI. Bras. Mer. 1.93. (1825). 
Diosme^, R. Brown in Flinders, (1814) ; Ad. de Jussieu Rutacees, 1. 83. (1825). — 
Fraxinelle^e, Nees and Martius Nov. Act. Bonn. 11. 149. (1823). — Cusparie^, 
DC. Mem. Mus. 9. 141. (1822) ; Prodr. 1. 729. (1824), a § o/Rutaceae. 
Essential Character. — Flowers hermaphrodite, regular or irregular. Calyx in 4 or 
5 divisions. Petals either as many as the divisions of the calyx, distinct, or combined into 
a kind of spurious monopetalous corolla, or occasionally wanting ; aestivation for the most 
part twisted-convolute, very rarely somewhat valvular. Stamens equal in number to the 
petals, or twice or thrice as many, or even fewer in consequence of abortion, hypogynous, 
very rarely perigynous, placed on the outside of a disk or cup surrounding the ovary, and 
either free or combined with the base of the calyx, or sometimes obsolete. Ovary sessile 
or stalked, its lobes equal to the number of petals, or fewer ; ovules twin and collateral, or 
one above the other, rarely 4, seldom more ; style single, occasionally divided towards the 
base into as many parts as there are lobes of the ovary ; stigma simple or dilated. Fruit 
consisting of several capsules, either cohering firmly or more or less distinct. Seeds twin 
or solitary, with a testaceous integument ; embryo with a superior radicle, which is either 
straight or oblique, and cotyledons of variable form ; albumen present or absent. — Trees or 
shrubs, very rarely herbaceous plants. Leaves without stipules, opposite or alternate, sim- 
