X 
INTRODUCTION. 
splitting by the abortion of many of the ovules, 3 seeded, (the valves 
by an accidental alteration of dehiscence,) either bearing the dissepi¬ 
ments in the middle, or forming them by the inflexion of their edges. 
Seeds fixed to the inner edge of the dissepiments, large, thick, and few. 
Albumen, none. Embryo, with large thick cotyledons, replete with oil, 
plano-convex, and, as it were, jointed at the base. Radicle, very short, 
obtuse opposite the hilum, drawn inwards, with a hardly conspicuous 
ascending plumule. 
From the above definition, the plants which belong to the natural 
order Camellieee may be readily determined; we will therefore now 
proceed to the description of the genera which compose it. The first 
we shall notice is the genus Camellia, named in honour of George 
Joseph Kamel, a jesuit, whose name has been latinized into Camellus. 
He is author of Syllabus Stirpium in insula Luzone Philippinarum, 
annexed to the third volume of Ray’s Historia Plantarum. The cha¬ 
racters by which the genus is distinguished are as follow: 
CAMELLIA. 
Essential character. — Flowers, axillary sessile. Calyx inferior, of 
7, 8, or more deciduous imbricated scales, the inner ones the largest. 
Petals, 5, 9- Styles united nearly their whole length. Capsule fur¬ 
rowed, having as many cells as furrows, and one or two seeds in each. 
Generic character.—Calyx inferior, of many imbricated, deciduous, 
roundish-concave, downy scales. Petals, 5, 6, or 9, large, inversely 
egg-shaped, united and imbricated at the base, which is thick and 
fleshy. Stamens numerous, connected together for about one third 
their length, and rising erect in a sort of cylindrical cup or column; 
filiform, and nearly the same length as the petals. Anthers roundish, 
two-lobed. Ovary superior, roundish furrowed, pubescent. Styles 
