279 
Order CCVII. MYOPORACE^. 
Myoporin.®, R. Brown Prodr. 514. (1810) ; Bartl. Ord. Nat. 176. (1830). 
Essential Character. — Calyx 5-parted, persistent. Corolla monopetalous, hypo- 
^nous, nearly equal or 2-lipped. Stamens 4, didynamous, with sometimes the rudiment 
of a fifth one, which occasionally bears pollen. Ovary 2- or 4-celled, the cells 1- or 2- 
seeded, with pendulous ovules; stijle 1 ; stigma scarcely divided. Fruit a drupe, with a 2- 
or 4-celled putamen, the cells of which are 1- or 2-seeded. Seeds with albumen ; embryo 
taper ; radicle superior. — Shrubs, with scarcely any pubescence. Leaves simple, without 
stipules, alternate or opposite. Flowers axillary, without bracts. R. Br. 
Affinities. The principal characters in the fructification of this order, 
by which it is distinguished from Verbenaceae, are the presence of albumen 
in the ripe seed, and the direction of the embiyo, whose radicle always points 
towards the apex of the fruit. The first of these characters is, however, not 
absolute, and neither of them can be ascertained before the ripening of the 
seed. R. Brown in Flinders, 557. 
Geography. This order, with the exception of Bontia, a genus of equi- 
noctial America, and of the species of Myoporum, found in the Sandwich Is- 
lands, has hitherto been observed only in the southern hemisphere, and yet 
neither in South Africa nor in South America beyond the tropics. Its maxi- 
mum is evidently in the principal parallel of Terra Australis, in every part of 
which it exists ; in the more southern parts of New Holland, and even in Van 
Diemen’s Island, it is more frequent than within the tropics. R. Brown in 
Flinders, 567. 
Properties. The bark of Avicennia tomentosa. the White Mangrove of 
Brazil, is in great use at Rio Janeiro for tanning. Pr. Max. Trav. 206. 
GENERA. 
Myoporum, Banks. Pholidia, R. Br. Eremophila, R. Br. 
Pogonia, Andr. Stenochilus, R. Br. Avicennia, L. 
Andrewsia, Venten. Bontia, L. 
Order CCVIII. SELAGINACE^. 
Selaginea;, Juss. Ann. Mus. 7. 71. (1806) ; Richard in Pers. Synops. 2. 146. (1807); 
Choisy Memoire, (1823) ; Bartl. Ord. Nat. 177. (1830). 
Essential Character. — Calyx tubular, persistent, with a definite number of teeth, or 
divisions, rarely consisting of two sepals. Corolla tubular, hypogynous, more or less irre- 
gular, with 5 lobes. Stamens 4, usually didynamous, arising from the top of the tube of 
the corolla, seldom 2 ; anthers 1 -celled, usually adnate to the dilated top of the filament, 
rarely versatile. Ovary superior, very minute ; style 1 , filiform. Disk hypogynous, fleshy. 
Fruit 2-celled, the cells either separable or inseparable, 1 -seeded, membranous. Seed soli- 
tary, pendulous ; embryo in the axis of fleshy albumen ; radicle superior. — Herbaceous 
plants, or small branched shrubs. Leaves alternate, usually sessile, toothed, or entire, often 
fascicled. Flowers sessile, spiked, with large bracts. 
Affinities. Originally separated from Verbenacese by Choisy, but with 
an erroneous character. The principal mark of the order is its 1 -celled an- 
thers. It differs from Verbenacese much as Epacridacese from Ericaceae. 
Geography. All found at the Cape of Good Hope. 
Properties. Unknown. 
GENERA. 
Selago, L. Microdon, Chois. Polyccnia, Chois. Agathelepis, Chois. 
Ilcbenstreitia, L. Dalea, Gsertn. Dischimia, Chois. 
