228 
enclosed in the calyx, with from 1 to 5 cells. Seeds ascending or suspended, solitary, with 
the embryo lying in the midst of the albumen ; radicle long, directed towards the hilum ; 
cotyledons flat, foliaceous. — Trees or shrubs. Leaves alternate, without stipules, usually 
toothed, turning yellow in drying. Flowers axillary, either solitary or clustered, with scale- 
like bracts. The hairs often stellate. 
Affinities. Tlie plants comprehended under this name require a careful 
examination and settlement. They have been at one time combined with 
Ebenacese, or divided into the two orders of Styracese and Symplocaceae, from 
both which Halesiacese have been again separated by Don and Link. From 
Ericaceee they differ in habit, in the definite number of their seeds, and their 
inferior ovary; from Ebenaceae in the latter character, in the perigynous in- 
sertion of the stamens, in the peculiar circumstance of part of the ovules being 
erect and part inverted, and in the style being simple. Von Martins consi- 
ders Styraceae as gamopetalous rather than monopetalous : but what is the 
real difference in the meaning of these two words ? Don says that Halesia- 
ceae are a group widely different from Styraceae, and that they are principally 
knovm from Columelliaceae by the indefinite stamens and simple stigma. 
Jameson s Journ. 1828. The genus Symplocos is different in habit from Sty- 
rax and Halesia, turning yellow in drying. Jussieu refers Styrax to Melia- 
ceae, with which family the order has no doubt much affinity. De Candolle 
considers them nearly akin to Ternstrdmiaceae. Essai Medic. 204. 
Geography. Found in North and South America within and without 
the tropics, and in tropical Asia and China. 
Properties. Some of the genus S}Tnplocos are used in dying yeUow ; 
others, as Alstonia theiformis, are employed as tea, on account of a slight as- 
tringency in their leaves. Storax and Benzoin, fragrant gum-resins, com- 
posed of resin, benzoic acid, and a peculiar aromatic principle, are the produce 
of two species of Styrax. 
GENERA. 
Symplocos, L. Hopea, L. Turaria, Molin. Strigilia, Cav. 
Alstonia, Mut. Styrax, L. Diclidanthera, Mart. Cypellium, Desv. 
Ciponima, Aubl. Halesia, L. ? Morelosia, Llave. Decadia, Lour. 
Paralea, Aubl. 
Order CLXXIII. AQUIFOLIACE.E. The Holey Tribe. 
Ilicinea;, Ad. Brongniart Mtmoire sur les Rhamnees, p. 16. (1826) ; Lindl. Synops.p. 73. 
(1829). — Aquifoliace^, DC. Thtorie, ed. 1. 217. (1813); a § o/ Celastrineae, 
lb. Prodr. 2. 11. (182.5) ; Martins H. R. Mon. (1829). 
Essential Character. — Sepals 4 to 6, imbricated in aestivation. Corolla 4- or 5- 
parted, hypogynous, imbricated in aestivation. Stamens inserted into the corolla, alternate 
with its segments ; filaments erect ; anthers adnate. Disk none. Ovary fleshy, superior, 
somewhat truncate, with from 2 to 6 cells ; ovules solitary, pendulous from a cup-shaped 
funiculus ; stigma subsessile, lobed. Fruit fleshy, indehiscent, with from 2 to 6 stones. 
Seed suspended, nearly sessile ; albumen large, fleshy ; embryo small, 2-lobed, lying next 
the hilum, with minute cotyledons, and a superior radicle. — Trees or shrubs. Leaves alter- 
nate or opposite, coriaceous. Flowers small, axillary, solitary or fascicled. 
Affinities. Included in Rhamnaceae by most botanists, but well distin- 
guished by Ad. Brongniart, who remarks that the suggestion of Jussieu, in his 
Genera Plantanim, that Aquifoliacese ought probably to be placed among 
Monopetalse, near Sapotacese or Ebenacese, wiU probably be adopted. From 
Celastracese, with which the order is combined in most modern works, 
it differs in the form of the calyx and corolla, in the disposition and insertion 
