194 
Alliance II. DAPHNALES, 
Essential Character. Calyx inferior, with an imbricated aestivation. Carpel soli- 
tary. Anthers opening by longitudinal fissures. 
Only differ from Penaeales in the compound structure of the fruit of the 
latter. 
Order CXLIV. EL.^AGNACEiE. The Oleaster Tribe. 
ELiEAGNi, Juss. Gen. 15. (1789). — En^EAGNEiE, Ach. Rich. Monogr. (1823) ; Lindl. Synopsis, 
208. (1829) ; Bartl. Ord. Nat. 113. (1830). 
Essential Character. — Flowers dioecious, rarely hermaphrodite. Male : Calyx 4- 
parted ; stamens 3, 4, or 8, sessile ; anthers 2-celled. Female : Calyx inferior, tubular, 
persistent; the entire, or 2-4-toothed. Ovary superior, simple, 1 -celled; ovule soli- 
tary, ascending, stalked ; stigma simple, subulate, glandular. Fruit crustaceous, enclosed 
within the calyx become succulent. Seed erect ; embryo straight, surrounded by very thin 
fleshy albumen ; radicle short, inferior ; cotyledons fleshy. — Trees or shrubs, usually covered 
with leprous scales. Leaves alternate, or opposite, entire, without stipules. Flowers axil- 
lary, often fragrant. 
Affinities. Its leprous leaves, superior fruit, tubular calyx, and apeta- 
lous flowers, will at all times distinguish the Oleaster tribe, which touches at 
one point Thvnnelacese, from which it is known by the position of its ovule ; 
at another Proteacese, known by their valvate irregular calyxes, and dehiscent 
fruit ; at a third Santalacese, which have the ovary inferior ; and also at a 
fourth Combretaceae, which have petals, convolute cot^dedons, and a superior 
calyx. As lepidote, or scurfy leaves, fonn one of the distinguishing marks of this 
little order, it may be worth noticing that the principal natural orders in which 
a similar organization occurs are Malpighiaceae, which are polypetalous and 
tricarpous, Euphorbiaceae which are tricoccous, Rutaceae which are pol)rpeta- 
lous and polycarpous, Solanaceae which are monopetalous, and Chenopodiaceae. 
It is obvious that the latter is the only one of these orders with which Elaeag- 
naceae can be confounded ; and from that they are readily known by their tu- 
bular calyx and straight embryo. 
Geography. Tlie whole of the northern hemisphere, down to the equa- 
tor, is occupied more or less by this family, from Canada and Japan to Guiana 
and Java ; they are comparatively rare south of the line. 
Properties. Tlie berries of Hippophae rhamnoides are occasionally eaten ; 
the fruit of Elseagnus orientalis is almost as large as a Jujube, and is known in 
Persia as an article of the dessert, under the name of Zinzeyd ; that of E. ar- 
borea and conferta is eaten in Nipal. 
GENERA. 
Elaeagnus, L. Hippophae, L. 
Shepherdia, Nutt. Conuleum, Rich. 
Order CXLV. THYMELACE^. The Mezereum Tribe. 
ThymeLjEjE, Juss. Gen. 76. (1789) ; R. Br. Prodr. 3.58. (1810) ; Lindley’s Synopsis, 208. 
(1829) ; Bartling Ord. Nat. 114. (1830) ; Arnott in Edinb. Encycl. 127. (1832). — 
Daphnoidee:, Vent. Tabl.II. 235. (1799). — Anthobole/e, Martius Conspectus, No. 
81. (1835). — Exocarpe.®, Arnott in Edinb. Encycl. 128, a § of Santalaceae, (1832). 
Essentiai. Character. — Calyx inferior, tubular, coloured; the limb 4 -cleft, seldom 
