Page:Illustrations of Indian Botany, Vol. 1.djvu/352

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ILLUSTRATIONS OF INDIAN BOTANY.

The families we have been hitherto describing are all referred by DeCandolle to his first division Thalamifiorae : distinguished by the inferior (hypogynous) insertion of the parts of the flower with reference to the ovary, in other words, by the insertion of the petals and sta- mens into the receptacle, the Torus being usually very narrow and unattached to the calyx. This division or class, owing to the constantly inferior insertion of the petals and stamens, has received from Jussieu the name of Hypopetal/e.

In the division, on the consideration of which we are now about to enter, the Torus is broad, and lines the bottom of the calyx, hence, the petals and stamens springing from its dilated and adnate part are commonly said to be inserted into the calyx. The petals in this division are either distinct or united together : and, the ovary is either free ( superior J ; or em- braced by and united with the tube of the calyx by the torus, ( inferior.)

This division is sub-divided into the following five classes — Peripetalae — Epipetalae — Epicorollae Corisantherae — (anthers distinct) Epecorollae Synantherae — (anthers united) and Pericorollae. The characters of these classes will be given at the head of each.

Torus between the ovary and tube of the calyx, but not forming a disk on the summit of the ovary. Petals distinct, and stamens perigynous.

To this class is referable all those orders having a superior or free ovary.

CELASTRINE^E.

This is a large family of plants partly tropical, but the greater number of them natives of the warmer regions bordering on the tropics. They are all trees or shrubs, with round or square branches, alternate or opposite, simple, or rarely compound, entire or dentate, petiolate, leaves : small deciduous stipules : and regular hermaphrodite small flowers, the bottom of which is lined with a large flat disk.

" Sepals 4-5, united at the base; aestivation imbricated. Petals as many as the sepals and alternating with them with abroad base, inserted under the margin of the torus; very rarely wanting : aestivation imbricated. Stamens alternate with the petals, and as many, in- serted on the margin or disk of the torus : anthers 2-celled, dehiscing on the inner side. Torus a large thick fleshy flat disk, coveting the bottom of the calyx. Ovary more or less immersed in arid adhering to the torus, 2-5-celled, or rarely from abortion 1 -celled: ovules usually two (sometimes only one, sometimes several) in each cell, attached to the axis, and usually at its base, at first ascending (sometimes afterwards by the elongation of the axis peritropal, or at last resupinately pendulous): styles 2-5, usually combined into one, sometimes distinct: stig- mas combined or distinct. Fruit free from the calyx, 2-5-celled (often partly abortive) : either indehiscent, drupacious, or baccate, or samaroid ; or membranaceous and follicular ; or capsu- lar, 3-4-valved. and loculicidal. Seeds one or several in each cell, sometimes arillate. Albu- men usually fleshy, sometimes very thin or wanting. Embryo straight : radicle short, pointing to the hilum : cotyledons usually thick. — Shrubs or trees. Leaves alternate or opposite."

Affinities. — Jussieu originally confounded this order with Rhamneae, from which it was afterwards separated by Brown on account of its imbricated aestivation, the stamens being alternate with, not opposed to, the petals as in that order, and its ovary always quite free. It is also nearly allied to Hippocratiaceae (which see) and to Euphorbiaceae, near which, in his alliance Euphorbiales Lindley places the order. Bartling takes a similar view and refers the order to his class Tn'coccae, the type of which is the Euphorbiaceae. Brogniart, who has so ably illustrated the Rhamneae, states it as his conviction that Celastrineae have more relation, to some orders with hypogynous stamens, especially Malpighiaceae, than to any with peri-