for it. Lindley, who was the first to view this as a distinct order, at first supposed it related to
Plumbagineacece and Plant aginencece, 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 Ehretiacece and Verbenacece. I quite agree with him in esteeming
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 Aximacece as its nearest relation, from which it principally
differs in its bisexual flowers and on e-cell ed 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 disposed
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 Jasmihece.
As Lindley 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.
C h a r a c t e r o p t h e O r d e r . “Small trees with the stem slightly tumid at the articulations.
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.
A f f i n i t i e s . “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 however
possible, upon the whole, that i t 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.
“Salvadora 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 considerable
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.
R em a r k s on G e n e r a a n d S p e c ie s . 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 Weigel tia, a genus of Myrsineaceee ; 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 Roxburmmmmr:.
ghi alia videtur quam ilia Forskali ex description©.” Royle afterwards took the same view
and called the one S. Persica, the other S. Indica, but without giving distinctive characters.
He however, as I understand him, calls, perhaps by mistake, the Indian plant figured by Roxburgh,
S . Persica, and the Forskalian one S. Indica. As I happen, through the kindness of
Mr Stocks (who sent me specimens of the Western plant from Scinde), to have both species
before me, I am enabled to clear up the doubts and uncertainties which have so long hung over
them. The typical forms of the t\Vo plants may be distinguished at a glance, the Western or
Persian one having long narrow elliptico-lanceolate leaves, and compact spicato-panicled inflorescence,
or, in other words, a sessile flowered panicle; while the Eastern or Indian one, has broad
ovato-oval obtuse leaves, and large diffuse racemoso-panicled inflorescence, that is, pedicelled
flowers on the floriferous ramuli. The berries, moreover, of the Persian plant are described as
yellow or black, those of the Indian one are red. I now have specimens of the Indian form, from
both Cambay and the Circars, and thence extending South to within a few miles of Cape Comorin
(how far North it goes I am unable to say), and every where corresponding with Roxburgh’s
figure and description. To this species, therefore, I restrict the specific name Indica, to the
other, or long narrow leaved and sessile flowered form, I assign the specific name of Persica.
But I have a third nearly intermediate form, also from Scinde, which, being only in fruit,
I am as yet uncertain how to dispose of. I t has the broad short blunt leaves of the Indian
plant, but the panicles are much more compact, and the pedicels scarcely half the length. It
seems a distinct species. The above species may be thus defined :—
S alvadora P e r s ic a (Linn. Cissus arborea, Forsk.), leaves oblong, narrow elliptico-Ianceo-
late, succulent, glabrous: panicles terminal, compact: flowers sessile, bracteate: bracts caducous:
corolla persistent: fru it------. Scinde, Arabia, Persia, Egypt.
S alvadora I nd ica (Royle? R. W., Salvadora Persica, Roxb.), arboreous, leaves broad
ovate-oval, obtuse, glabrous: panicles terminal and axillary, diffuse; flowers longish pedicelled :
bracts sub-persistent: berry about twice theJength of the calyx, red, embraced by the marcessant
corolla. i
India, everywhere in low lying damp ground, usually near cultivation.
S alvadoka S tocksi i (R. W.), leaves ovato-oval, mucronate: panicles compact, terminal:
flowers short pedicelled: corolla deciduous: fruit three or four times the length of the
persistent calyx.
Scinde, Stocks. I consider this a perfectly distinct species, as shown by the deciduous
corolla, large sine of the fruit, and compact form of the panicles. In these definitions I have
limited myself to the characters, simply required to distinguish one species from the other. Of
the two last I shall give figures in the leones.
EXPLANATION OP PLATE 181.
1. Salvadora Indica (R. W.), flowering branch, natu-
ral size.
2. Portion o f a raceme with 2 flowers.
3. A detached floorer.
4. Corolla split open, showing the attachment of the
stamens and a small gland-like scale (abortive stamens ?)
between each pair.
5. Anthers back and front view.
6. Calyx and ovary, the latter some days after fertilization.
. 7. Calyx cut vertically, showing the solitary ovule.
8. A ripe berry.
9. 10. The same cut vertically and across, showing
the seed aborted.
11. The aborted seed.
]2. A fertile fruit cut transversely, showing the seed
filling the whole cavity.
13. Cut vertically.
14. A single seed, lobe and radicle.