273 
laceze, from which it differs in its inverted embryo and drupaceous fruit. 
Nov. Gen. 1. c. 
Geography. Natives of the tropics of both hemispheres. 
Properties. The ffesh of their fruit is succulent, mucilaginous, and 
emollient, as is seen in the Sebesten Plums, the produce of Cordia Myxa and 
Sebestena. 
GENERA. 
Cordia, L. Patagonula, L. Erycibe, Roxb. 
Varronia, L. Cordiopsis, Hamilt. Erimatalia, Schultes. 
Cerdana, R. et P. 
Order CCIII. EHRETIACE^. 
Ehretiace^, Martins N. G. et Sp. 2. 136. (1828) ; Martins Conspectns, No. 126. (1835). — 
Heliotropice.®, Id. 2. 75. et 138. (1828). — Asperifoli^ b. Heliotropicese, Id. 
Conspectus. No. 118. (1835). 
Essential Character. — Calyx inferior, 5-parted, imbricated in aestivation. Corolla 
monopetalous, tubular, with as many segments of its limb as the calyx, with an imbricated 
aestivation. Stamens alternate with the segments of the corolla, and equal to them in num- 
ber, arising from the bottom of the tube ; anthers innate ; pollen minute, elliptical. Ovary 
seated in an annular disk, 2- or more celled; style terminal; stigma simple, 2-lobed; 
ovules suspended. Fruit drupaceous, with as many seeds as there are true cells of the 
ovary. Seed suspended, solitary ; testa simple, thin ; embryo in the midst of thin fleshy 
albumen, or exalbuminous ; radicle superior; cotyledons plano-convex. — Trees or shrubs, 
or herbaceous plants, with a harsh pubescence. Leaves simple, ^alternate, without stipules. 
Flowers gyrate. 
Affinities. A branch of the old Boraginaceae, distinguished by a terminal 
style proceeding from the apex of a perfectly concrete ovary of 4 cells, a 
baccate fruit, and seeds furnished with thin fleshy albumen. Of these cha- 
racters I conceive the former to be good, and the latter bad ; and the order 
itself, which I adopt upon the authority of Von Martins, hardly tenable, differ- 
ing from Boraginacese, with which it is connected through Heliotropiceae, 
chiefly in its succulent (not dry) separable fruit. The nucamentaceous cha- 
racter here is obvious enough, notwithstanding the concretion of the carpels. 
Geography. Tropical trees or shrubs, natives of either hemisphere. A 
few occur in the south of Europe and the southern States of America ; but 
none appear further to the north than the parallel of 45°. 
Properties. The root of Ehretia buxifolia is reckoned in India one of 
those medicines which assist in altering and purifying the habit in cases of 
cachexia and venereal affections of long standing. Ainslie, 2. 81. 
GENERA. 
§ 1. Ehretie^. Ehretia, L. § 2. Heliotropice.*, 
Rhabdia, Mart. Carmona, Cav. ? Martius. 
Beurreria, Jacq. Tiaridium, Lehm. 
Heliotropium, L. 
T 
