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naceae through Choripetalum. Primulacese touch closely upon Solanaceae, 
from which, however, they are known, independently of all other circumstances, 
by their stamens opposite the segments of the corolla. 
Alliance I. BREXIALES, 
Essential Character, — Albumen absent. Carpels 5. Sterile stamens between the 
fertile ones. Seeds indefinite. 
Order CLXIII. BREXIACE^E. 
BrexiacEjE, Ed. Prior. No. 95. (1830} ; Arnott in Edinh. Encijcl. 104 (1832) ; Martins 
Conspectus, No. 291. (1835). 
Essential Character. — Calyx inferior, small, persistent, 5-parted; aestivation imbri- 
cated. Petals 5, hypogynous, imbricated in aestivation. Stamens 5, hypogynous, alternate 
with the petals, arising from a narrow cup, which is toothed between each stamen; anthers 
oval, innate, 2-celled, bursting longitudinally, fleshy at the apex ; pollen triangular, cohering 
by means of fine threads. Ovary superior, 5-celled, with numerous ovules attached in two 
rows to placentae in the axis ; style 1, continuous ; stigma simple. Fruit drupaceous, 
5-celled, many-seeded. Seeds indefinite, attached to the axis, with a double integument, 
the inner of which is membranous ; albumen 0 ; cotyledons ovate, obtuse ; radicle cylin- 
drical, centripetal. — Trees, with nearly simple trunks. Leaves coriaceous, alternate, simple, 
not dotted, with deciduous minute stipules. Flowers green, in axillary umbels, surrounded 
by bracts on the outside. 
Affinities. The solitary genus upon which this order is founded does 
not exhibit any very obvious affinities, for which reason it is probable that 
other genera remain to be discovered which will establish the connexion that 
is at present wanting. Its habit is that of some Myrsinacese, especially of 
Theophrasta, from which it differs in being pol)rpetalous, in the stamens being 
alternate with the petals, and in many other circumstances. With Rhamnacese 
and Celastraceae its relation is no doubt strong, but its stamens are hypogy- 
nous, not perigynous, and its seeds indefinite. Some resemblance may be 
traced between it and Anacardiacese, especially in the resinous appearances 
visible upon the young shoots, and also in habit; but its fructification is 
entirely at variance with that order. With Pittosporacese it agrees in its 
hypogynous definite stamens, its polyspermous fruit, its alternate undivided 
leaves, and habit ; but it disagrees in a number of important particulars. I 
once thought it approached more nearly to Celastraceae than to any other 
order ; but its relationship to Theophrasta seems so great that I am unwilling 
to remove it from the vicinity of Primulales, especially as it is so much a cha- 
racter of the Polycarpous group to separate the petals. The fruit is well 
described by Wallich in the Flora Indica. 
Geography. Madagascar trees. 
Properties. Unknown. 
GENUS. 
Brexia, Thouars. 
Venana, Law. 
