Page:Illustrations of Indian Botany, Vol. 2.djvu/450

228

ILLUSTRATIONS OF INDIAN BOTANY. for it. Liudley, who was the first to view this as a distinct order, at first supposed it related to Plumbagineacece and Plantagineacece, a view which has been adopted by both Endlicher and Meisner, but which further consideration has led him to modify, and now he thinks it may possibly be considered an ally of Ehretiaceae and Verbenacece. I quite agree with him in esteem- ing 1 its relationship to the two former orders remote, and think that its suggested relationship to Verbenacece seems to merit consideration, though it must be admitted that that too is remote. For myself I feel disposed to look upon Jzimacece as its nearest relation, from which it prin- cipally differs in its bisexual flowers and one-celled ovary ; both are tetramerous ; both have a sessile stigma; both have erect anatropous ovules; both have baccate fruit; both exalbuminous seed and inferior radicle ; and both are fruticose with opposite more or less succulent leaves. On these grounds it occurs to me that, had I now to go over the ground again, I should feel dis- posed to place this order in the Oleinous group, as being the one with which it coincides in the greatest number of points; though I should still view it as quite distinct. Lindley, doubtfully, indicates a similar relationship, but places the order in his Echial Alliance next Jasminece.

As Liudley is the only author who has treated of this order in detail, and as his account of it is both correct and brief, I shall take the liberty of quoting it at length, for the benefit of those of my readers who may not be so fortunate as to have access to the valuable original from whence I copy it.

"Small trees with the stem slightly tumid at the articu- lations. Leaves opposite, leathery, entire, very obscurely veined. Flowers minute, in loose panicles. Calyx inferior, 4-leaved, minute. Corolla membranous, monopetalous, 4-parted. Stamens 4, connecting the petals into a monopetalous corolla; anthers round, 2-celled, bursting longitudinally. Ovary superior, 1-celled, with a single sessile stigma; ovule solitary, erect. Pericarp berried ; 1-celled, indehiscent. Seed solitary, erect. Embryo amygdaloid, without albumen; cotyledons fleshy, plano-convex, fixed a little below their middle to a long axis, the radicle of which is inclosed within their bases.

"By one author referred to Chenopods or Amaranths, notwithstanding its monopetalous corolla and embryo ; by another to Ardisiads, notwithstanding the position of its stamens and the structure of ovary and seeds. This plant appears to be in reality the type of a quite distinct order, the true relation of which I formerly supposed to be with Leadworts and Plantains. With the latter it agrees in the number of the parts of its flower, its membranous corolla, and simple style ; with the former more in habit, and especially in the leaves, which are mnch like those of a Statice. It, however, differs essentially in its polysepalous calyx, amygdaloid embryo, opposite leaves, and berried pericarps. In habit it agrees with Galenia, and this has probably been the cause of its having found its way to Chenopods. It seems how- ever possible, upon the whole, that it should be considered an ally of Ehretiads or Verbenes having but one carpel and symmetrical tetrandrous flowers. The species are found in India, Syria, and North Africa.

'■'■Salvador a persica, the Mustard-tree of Scripture, as-has been demonstrated by Dr. Royle, has a succulent fruit which has a strong aromatic smell, and tastes like Garden cress. The bark of the root is remarkably acrid; bruised and applied to the skin it soon raises blisters, for which the Natives of India often use it. As a stimulant it promises to be a medicine of con- siderable power. The leaves of S. Indica are purgative ; the fruit is said to be eatable." The berries, which are about the size and, when ripe, somewhat resemble a small red currant, have a pungent taste and the peculiar flavour of Nasturtum or Indian cress, Tropceolum majus.

To this genus, six species are assigned in botanical works ; S. persica, capitata, biflora, Surinamensis, paniculata, and Indica. Of these the first constitutes the original type of the genus, the second and third, so far as I can make out from description, do not belong to it, the fourth rests on the authority of Sprengel, and has been referred, by Alph. D.C., to Weigeltia, a genus of Myrsineacece ; and lastly the 5th and 6th seem to be the same or very nearly allied species. The first and last have long been confounded. The first notice to that effect, I find in Racmer and Schultes in these words, "Planta Roxbur-