Page:Illustrations of Indian Botany, Vol. 2.djvu/46

Rh 2 or 4-celled, sometimes but rarely 3-celled. I have from Ceylon what appears to be a small flowered variety of B. aculangula, it may however be a distinct species, but that, my specimens scarcely enable me to determine.

The number of cells of the ovary of Careya, like that of Barringtonia, seems to vary, as in the accompanying figure, which, though not prepared under my eye, I have every reason to believe a correct representation of the specimen, five are shown though four is the normal number.


 * Careya Arborea, Rosb. — 1. Flowering branch, slightly reduced, in size.
 * 2-3. Fasciculi of stamens, back and front views.
 * 4. Authors, back and front views.
 * 5. Ovary, cut vertically.
 * 6. Ovary cut transversely, but showing 5 in place of 4-cells, ihe usual number.
 * 7. A cluster of full grown fruit.
 * 8. One of them cut transversely, showing the seed imbedded in soft, loo-e, cellular matter, which occupies the whole interior of the fruit.
 * 9. A seed, detached.
 * 10. The same cut transversely, the central dark spot representing the form and position of the embryo in the midst of a copious albumen.
 * 11. The same, cut longitudinally — both from young specimens.
 * 12 & 13. The same parts, as seen in ripe seed.

Much difference of opinion seems to exist among Botanists as to the place this small tribe of plants should occupy in the Botanical system.

Jussieu originally referred them to Myrtaceae, Mr. D. Don, afterwards removed them thence and constituted them a distinct order, assigning as their nearest affinities Saxifrageae. DeCandolle so far adopted this view as to indicate Hydrangeaea tribe of Saxifiageae, as their nearest allies, but notwithstanding, stations Philadelpheae next Myrtaceae : Deutzia however he gives to Hydrangeae. Lindley and Arnott both adopt the order, both place it near Myrtaceae and both differ from DeCandolle in considering Deutzia one of its genera. Bartling on the other hand takes a totally different view and places the genera referred here among his Onagrariae, a station, in my opinion, most erroneous since it virtually reduces that order, by depriving it of its only really good character, the binary arrangement of all its parts, "every part of the flower being some regular multiple of two" a most valuable character but lost on the union of Philadelpheae which have a quinary arrangement. Deutzia, referred here by Lindley, Arnott, and Meisner, is excluded by D.C. and Bartling. Meisner, differing from these leading authorities, reverts to Jussieu's arrangement and replaces, as I have here done, the tribe among Myrtaceae, raising it to the rank of a suborder. I have the more readily followed Meisner, partly because I do not clearly see on what point, with the exception of albuminous seed, a good distinction can be established, but principally, because it affords me a convenient opportunity of noticing an Indian order, which, from its being confined to the northern regions and not admitted into our Prodromus, would otherwise have been passed over.

Whether or not I am correct in considering this a sub-order rather than an order is a question which may be left for abler Botanists, and enjoying better opportunities for its examination, to determine. In the mean time, I copy Dr. Lindley's character of the order, as given in the second edition of his natural system.

"Calyx superior, with a persistent limb, having from 4 to 10-divisions. Petals alternate with the segments of the calyx, and equal to them in number, with a convolute-imbricate aestivation. Stamens indefinite, arising in I or 2 rows from the orifice of the calyx. Styles either distinct, or consolidated into one, stigmas several. Capsule half inferior, with from 4 to 10-cells, many-seeded. Seeds scobiform, subulate, smooth, heaped in the angles of the cells upon an angular placenta; aril? loose membranous Albumen fleshy; embryo inverted, about as long as the albumen, cotyledons oval, obtuse, flat tish; radicle longer than the cotyledons, superior, straight, obtuse. Shrubs. Leaves deciduous, opposite, toothed, without dois or stipules. Peduncles axillary or terminal, in trichotouious cymes. Flowers always white. Fruit sometimes a little scurfy."