Illustrations of Indian Botany, Vol. 1/Connaraceae

by Robert Wight

XLVI.— CONNARACEAE.

Much difference of opinion seems to exist among Botanists as to the place in the series of orders this one ought to occupy. Jussieu placed the genus Connarus among the Terebinthacece, DeCandolle retains it and the other genera composing order in the same family, forming of them his tribe Connaracece. Brown first proposed its separation as a distinct family, in which he has been followed by most modern writers, who generally retain it among the perigynous orders placing it between Terebinthacece and Leguminosece, to some of the extreme forms of the latter of which orders, the character of its fruit nearly allies it. Dr. Brown however states it as his belief, in which I perfectly coincide, that the insertion of the floral appendages is hypogynous and not perigynous.

This opinion of the highest living Botanical authority, further confirmed by personal examination, induced Dr. Arnott, contrary to the general practice, to bring it here. The propriety of this arrangement there seems, at first sight, some reason to question, but it derives so much support from the hypogynous insertion of the stamens, and the 5-celled ovaries, on a gynobase, of Rouria and Cnestis, in both of which respects they so closely approach Zanthoxylacece, as scarcely to leave a doubt of the propriety of the change, notwithstanding the 1-celled ovary of Connarus.

The following amended character was drawn up by Dr. Arnott for our Prodromus.

"Flowers bi- (rarely uni) sexual. Calyx 5-partite, regular, persistent, aestivation imbricate or valvular. Petals 5, equal, inserted into the base of the calyx. Stamens twice as many as the petals, rarely with half of them sterile, hypogynous: filaments usually combined at their base into a glandular ring. Ovaria simple and solitary, or several and distinct : ovules in pairs, collateral, ascending: styles terminal, continuous with the central angle of the carpels : stigmas obtuse, usually dilated. Capsules 1 -5, dehiscing longitudinally at the ventral suture. Seeds solitary, erect, sometimes with an arillus. Albumen none, or fleshy. Radicle superior, at the opposite extremity from the hilum : cotyledons thick when there is no albumen, foliaceous in those with it. — Trees or shrubs without resinous juices. Leaves compound, alternate, not dotted, exstipulate."

Affinities. The affinities have been indicated above so far as they are known, but still there is some room to doubt whether they are yet. well understood — on which account I will not occupy further space in the discussion of this question.

Geographical Distribution. The members of this order are all natives of the tropics, and are met with in Asia, Africa and America, hut no where numerous. In India they have a wide range, extending from the southern extremity of Ceylon and the Peninsula, up to Silhet.

In Malabar, towards the extreme south two or three species are very abundant. In other parts of the continent, I have visited, they are comparatively unknown.

Properties and Uses. I am not aware of any uses to which these plants have been applied, some of them form handsome flowering shrubs and are not less interesting in appearence when in fruit than when in flower, the numerous bright-red capsules contrasting favourably with the deep green of the leaves long after the flowers have disappeared. Under cultivation, they might succeed here, and would form a showy addition to the ornamental shrubbery.

Remarks on Genera and Species. The Peninsular flora only presents us with two genera of this order, Connarus and Rouria. These are most easily distinguished by the ovary, which in the former is solitary, and 1-celled; while in the latter, there are 4 or 5, each having its own style and stigma. In the character of the flowers Rouria and Cnestis are very closely allied, each having five ovaries, hut the latter has albuminous seed, which is wanting in the former. Adopting these simple distinctions the perplexity existing among the genera and species of this order is at once removed, by the reduction of the heteromorphous genus Omphalobium, at present made up of species taken from each of these, and the restoration of Aublet's prior genus. The certain genera of this order then amount to three, Connarus, Rouria, and Cnestis, species of each of which are found in India.

EXPLANATION OF PLATE 63.

1. Connarus pinnatus—natural size.

2. A flower showing the sepals and petals.

3. The same, the sepals and petals removed to show the ovary and stamens.

4. Anthers baik and front views.

5. Ovary cut vertically, showing the lateral insertion of the ovules.

6. ---transversely, showing the ovules paired and collateral.

7. A mature capsule.

8. The same opened to show the seed in situ.

9. The seed divided longitudinally, showing the radicle superior or at the opposite end of the seed from the hilum.

10. A seed cut transversely.

11. A seed lobe, the testa removed.

CONNARACEÆ

CONNARUS PINNATUS. (Lam.)