227 
regular, deciduous, somewhat coriaceous, usually pubescent externally, and smooth inter- 
nally ; its limb with 3 or 6 divisions, imbricated in aestivation. Stamens definite, either 
arising from the corolla, or hypogynous ; twice as many as the segments of the corolla, 
sometimes 4 times as many, or the same number, and then alternate with them ; filaments 
simple in the hermaphrodite species, generally doubled in the polygamous and dioecious 
ones, both their divisions bearing anthers, but the inner one generally smaller ; anthers 
attached by their base, lanceolate, 2-celled, dehiscing lengthwise, sometimes bearded ; pollen 
round, smooth. Ovary sessile, without any disk, several -celled, the cells each having 1 or 
2 ovules pendulous from their apex ; style divided, seldom simple ; stigmas bifid, or simple. 
Fruit fleshy, round or oval, by abortion often few-seeded, its pericarp sometimes opening in 
a regular manner. Seed with a membranous testa of the same figure as the albumen, which 
is cartilaginous and white ; embryo in the axis, or but little out of it, straight, white, gene- 
rally more than half as long as the albumen ; cotyledons foliaceous, somewhat veiny, lying 
close together, occasionally slightly separate ; radicle taper, of middling length or long, 
turned towards the hilum ; plumule inconspicuous. — Trees or shrubs, without milk, and a 
heavy wood. Leaves alternate, without stipules, obsoletely articulated with the stem, quite 
entire, coriaceous. Infiorescence axillary. Peduncles solitary, those of the males divided, 
of the females usually 1 -flowered, with minute bracts. R. Br. 
Affinities. Very near Oleacese, with which they agree in the placenta- 
tion of the seeds and other points of structure ; distinguished by their alter- 
nate leaves, constantly axillary and usually unisexual flowers, the stamens of 
which are at least double the number of the lobes of the corolla. R. Br. 
They are more closely allied to Aquifoliaceae, from which they chiefly differ in 
the number of their stamens and their divided sexes. For their resemblance 
to Sapotacese, see that order. 
Geography. Chiefly Indian and tropical ; a very few are found north- 
ward as far as Switzerland in Europe, and the state of New York in North 
America. 
Properties. Remarkable only for the hardness and blackness of the 
wood of such species as Diospyrus Ebenus, Ebenaster, melanoxylon, Mabolo, 
tomentosa and Roylei, and for the eatable quality of the fruit. The former is 
well known under the name of Ebony and Ironwood ; the latter is occasion- 
ally introduced from China as a dry sweetmeat. It is noted for extreme 
acerbity before arriving at maturity. The bark of Diosp. virginiana is said to 
be a febrifuge. The fruit of Diospyrus Embry opteris is so glutinous as to be 
used in Bengal for paying boats. Royle. 
GENERA. 
Diospyros, L. 
Ebenus, Commers. 
Embry opteris, Gaertn. 
Royena, L. 
Cargillia, R. Br. 
Maba, Forst. 
Pisonia, Rottb. 
Ferreola, Roxb. 
Ebenoxylum, Lour. 
Pouteria, Aubl. 
Labatia, Sw. 
Phelline, La Bill, 
Goetzea, Wydl. 
Sub-Order ? STYRACEiE. 
Styrace.®, Rich. Anal, du Fr. (1808) ; Fon Martius, N. Gen. et Sp. PI. 2. 148. (1826). — 
Ebenace^, a § of Styraceae, DC. and Duby, 320. (1828). — Symplocine^, Don 
Prodr. Nep. 144. (1825). — Styracin^, Rich, in Humb.N. G. et Sp. 3. 256. (1818) ; 
Svnops. 2. 315. (1823). — Halesiace.®, Don in Jameson's Journ. {Dec. 1828) ; Link 
Handb.l. 667. (1829). 
Essential Character. — Calyx inferior or superior, with 5 divisions, persistent. 
Corolla monopetalous, the number of its divisions frequently different from that of the 
calyx; with imbricated aestivation. Stamens definite or indefinite, arising from the tube of 
the corolla, of unequal length, cohering in various ways, but generally in a slight degree 
only ; anthers innate, 2-celled, bursting* inwardly. Ovary superior, or adhering to the 
calyx, with from 3 to 5 cells ; ovules definite, the upper ascending, the lower pendulous, or 
rnce versA ; style simple ; stigma somewhat capitate. Fruit drupaceous, surmounted by or 
