DIV : II.—CALICIFLORAS, D.C.
The families we have been hitherto describing are all referred by DeCandolle to his first
division Thalamijlorae: distinguished by the inferior (hypogyrious) insertion of the parts of
the flower with reference to the ovary, in other words, by the insertion of the petals and stamens
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 H y p o p e t a l .®.
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) ; or embraced
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.
CLASS PERIPETALAE.
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.
CELASTRINEaE.
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.
iS Sepals 4-5, united at the base; aestivation imbricated. Petals as many as the sepals
and alternating with them with a broad base, inserted under the margin of the torus; very
rarely wanting: aestivation imbricated. Stamens alternate with the petals, and as many, inserted
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 and adhering to the torus, 2-5-celled, or rarely from abortion l-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: stigmas
combined or distinct. Fruit free from the calyx, 2-5 celled (often partly abortive) : either
indehiscent, drupacious, or bacca'e, or saraaroid; or membranaceous and follicular ; or capsular,
3-4 valved. and loculicidal. Seeds one or several in each cell, sometimes arillate. Albumen
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.”
A f f in i t i e s .— 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 Hlopocratiaceae (which see) and to E up horbiaceae, near which, in his
alliance Euphorbiales Lindley places the order. Bartling takes a similar view and refers the
order to his class Tri.coccae, the type of which is the Euphorbiaceae. Brogniart, who has so
ably illustrated the Rhamneae, states it as his conviction that Celast.rineae have more relation
to some orders with hypogynous stamens, especially Malpighiaceae, than to any with peri-
ILLUSTRATIONS OF INDIAN BOTANY. 175
gynous ones. Achille Richard places it between Rhamneae and Euphorbiaceae: Blume however
continues to follow Jussieu in uniting them to Rhamneae. As all these eminent Botanists
seem agreed on the one point, .that this order forms the transition from the hypogynous to the
perigynous divisions of DeCandolle’s arrangement, the one adopted in this work, it seems evident,
that it is most judiciously placed in its present situation as the connecting link between
the two.
G e o g r a p h ic a l D is t r ib u t io n . This is a very widely distributed order, species being met
with in the warmer regions of every quarter of the globe, but much more abundantly beyond
than within the tropics. The Spindle tree, Euonemus Europaeus is a native of the north of
Europe, and has several congeners in the Himalayas, and also in the alpine districts of this
Peninsula. I have two species from the hills about Courtallum, and excluding one or two, which I
am as yet unable to determine, two from the Neilgberries. Celastrus in like manner has a wide
range in India, extending from the southern extremity of Ceylon up to the Himalayas, several
species occurring at either end of these distant limits. Species of both of these genera are
found in Java and China, as well as in America, and of the latter, in Africa. Celastrus corea-
ceus of Senegambia, seems indeed almost identical with our C. montana. Elaeodendron has
fewer species and a more limited range, being confined to the East and West Indies, and has
one species in Norfolk Island. The tribe llicineae of which the Holly is the type has recently
been removed from this, and placed as a separate order among the monopetalous orders, where
it ranks near the Ebony’s and Olives. Dr. Wallich’s genus Kurrimia is found in Silhet and
Ceylon, from the last of which stations I have two species. According to Wallich’s list there
are about 70 species, natives of India, referable to this order.
P roperties and U se s . But little is known of these./ The berries of Euonemus Europaeus
are said to be violently emetic, and to prove poisonous to sheep. Of the Indian species,
not one is mentioned by Ainslie as being used in medicine. The researches however of the
late Dr. Herklots brought one to light well known to the natives as possessed of very peculiar
powers, the seed namely of Celastrus nutans (Malkungnee of the natives;, from which he
extracted, by a rather rude process an Emperumatic oil. This he administered with great success
in Berriberri. In other hands it has not proved quite so successful. As however the subject
is as yet imperfectly known and seems to merit further inquiry, I presume I need offer no
apology for introducing a rather long extract from Mr. Malcolmson’s essay on Berriberri, giving
some-apcount of its introduction into medical practice, and of its active constituents, as ascertained
by chemical analysis, in the hope, that the very simple and easily made experiments of
Mr. M. may induce others to extend the enquiry to the seed of other species, and thence perhaps,
add another not less powerful remedial agent from a family which has not hitherto been
sufficiently investigated.
“ O leum N igrum, (Herklots). It remains to communicate such observations as I have made,
regarding another native remedy of great value, styled by Dr. Herklots, to whom we owe its first
introduction to the notice of Europeans, the oleum nigrum. It is prepared in the following
manner. Into an earthen pot whose bottom is perforated by a number of small holes are put,
malkungnee seeds tbijss, benzoin, cloves, nutmegs, mace, of each §ss; the mouth is closed and
the pot placed over another and luted to it. They are then placed in a pit three feet deep and
nearly as wide, and surrounded by cakes of dry cow-dung which are set on fire, and when they
are consumed about six ounces of the oil is found in the under vessel ready for use. It should
be kept in well closed bottles. As we would expect from the nature of the process, the appearance
and sensible qualities of the product resemble those of an emphreumatic oil, possessing
the peculiar powers of the principal ingredient, the malkungnee seeds. These do not appear to
be the produce of the Circars, or as far as I can learn, of the Deccan, but Mr. Royle has included
them in a list of Indian materia medica, and states that the plant is the Celastrus
nutans.v°l It is stated by Hukeem Mahomed Hussein Khan, to be a native of Hindoostan, and
the seeds are imported from Calcutta or brought to the Circars from Hyderabad, and are only
found in the principal towns, where they are kept in bags containing the seeds, seed vessels and