239 
Geography. An Indian marshy annual. 
Properties. Unknown. 
GENUS. 
Pongatium, Juss. 
Sphenoclea, Gsertn. 
Gcertnera, Retz. 
Rapinia, Lour. 
Order CLXXXI. ? BELVISIACE^. 
Belvisie^e, R. Brown in Linn. Trans. 13. 222. (1820). 
Essential Character. — Calyx of 1 piece, persistent, with a divided limb. Corolla ? 
monopetalous, plaited (many-lobed or undivided, simple or double), deciduous. Stamens 
either definite or indefinite, arising from the base of the corolla. Ovary inferior ; style 1 ; 
stigma lobed or angular. Fruit berried, many-seeded. — Shrubs. Leaves alternate, entire, 
without stipules. Flowers axillary or lateral, solitary. R. Br. 
Affinities. Little is known of this obscure family, except that it is not 
referable to any order at present established. 
Geography. African shrubs or trees. 
Properties. Unknown. 
1 GENERA. 
j Belvisia, Desv. Asterantbus, Desf. 
] Napoleona, P. de B. 
] 
I 
j Order CLXXXII. COLUMELLIACE^. 
li 
j Columellie^, Don in Edinb. New Phil. Journ. {Dec. 1828). 
Essential Character. — Calyx superior, 5-parted. Corolla rotate, 5-8-parted, with 
an imbricated aestivation. Stamens 2, inserted in the throat, alternate with the segments 
of the corolla ; anthers roundish, 3 -lobed, bursting externally, each consisting of three pair 
of narrow somewhat sinuous cells which open longitudinally, and which are placed upon a 
solid fleshy connective. Ovary inferior, 2-celled, with an indefinite number of ovules ; 
style simple, smooth ; stigma capitate, 2-lobed. Disk epigynous, fleshy. Fruit capsular, 
2-celled, many- seeded, with a septicidal dehiscence. — [^Seeds ascending; testa polished; 
embryo taper, erect, in the axis of fleshy albumen. Dow.] — Shrubs, or trees. Leaves oppo- 
\ site, without stipules, entire or serrateL Flowers yellow. 
Affinities. This character has been prepared from excellent specimens 
i of Columellia oblonga sent home by Mathews ; C. obovata does not appear to 
differ in any essential circumstance, so far as I can judge, from a bud given 
i me by M''' Don. This gentleman, who first noticed the order, thinks it near 
: Jasminacese, with which it corresponds “ in the structure and aestivation of 
' the corolla, in the bilocular ovary, and erect (?) ovules ; and it agrees both 
' with them and Syringa in the structure and dehiscence of the capsule. The 
order differs, however, essentially from Jasminaceae, by having an adherent 
i ovary, by the presence of a perigynous (?) disk, by the undivided stigma, and, 
! lastly, by having an inferior capsule with polyspermous cells.” It appears to 
! me, however, that there are objections to this view of the affinities of the 
' order, especially as Menodora which Don included in his Columelliaceae is 
! 
