Illustrations of Indian Botany, Vol. 1/Olacineae
XXX—OLACINEAE.
A small order, nearly confined to the tropics, consisting for the most part of shrubs or small trees, often climbing or diffuse, more rarely erect, and armed with spines. The leaves are exstipulate, alternate, simple, petioled, undivided and entire : more rarely as in Balanites,, bifoliolate. The flowers are bisexual, or occasionally, by abortion, polygamous, or dioicous, small, axillary, racemose.
Calyx small, either entire and slightly toothed, or 5 sepaled, often, when entire, becoming enlarged with the fruit. Petals 3-5-6, either separate or adhering in pairs ; aestivation valvate. Stamens 3 10, either all fertile, or with alternate sterile ones, hypogynous, often variously united with the petals, either opposite to them when the flowers are symmetrical, or wholly or partially alternate, when unsymmetrical : filaments compressed: anthers oblong, bursting longitudinally. Ovary 1-5 celled, with pendulous ovules. Fruit drupacious indehiscent, occasionally surrounded by the enlarged calyx, 1-celled, 1 -seeded. Seed usually pendulous. Albumen copious,, fleshy. Embryo with the radicle next the hilum.
In Olax, the fertile stamens alternate with the petals and unite them by pairs; in Ximenia, and also Opilia, they are opposite the petals, not the sepals in the latter, as stated, through an oversight of the authors, in the Flora Senegambiœ, who seem to have overlooked the minute calyx of that genus. In Gomphandra Wall, (list No. 3718) which seems nearly allied to Stemonoous, Blume, the stamens equal the petals, and alternate with them 3 while the flowers are usually unisexual by abortion.
Affinities. These are very uncertain, most authors however agree in adopting DeCandolle's arrangement, and place them near Aurantiaceœ, with which they unquestionably have many points of affinity. But on the other hand, the character of the seed of Olacineœ is so totally at variance with what we find in Aurantiaceœ, that it is not easy to reconcile one's self to view that as a natural arrangement, which places plants differing so widely, in so essential an organ as the seed, side by side. Mr. Brown takes a very different view of their structure. He considers them apetalous, viewing the organs called petals by other authors as sepals, and their sepals as an involucrum. According to this view of its structure, the order should occupy a place near Santalaceœ and Thymaleœ, with which it agrees in the character of its seed. In opposition to this view, it may be stated on the one side, that Balanites which is now referred to this order has distinct sepals and petals, and on the other, that Ternstraemiaceae, and especially the genus Ternstrœmiahas the embryo in the midst of a copious albumen some-what similar to what we find in Opilia, and Balanites. For these reasons, added to the similarity in various points between the flowers of Ximenia and Balanites, to those of the Aurantiaceœ, I do not see that, in the present state of our knowledge of the order, we can assign it a more suitable place than that which it now occupies, between these two orders, the relationship of which seems generally admitted.
Geographical Distribution. As already remarked, the order consists almost entirely of tropical shrubs or small trees. Though few in number they have a wide range, being met with with in, or on the confines of the tropics in Asia, Africa, America, and Australia.
In continental India 5 genera are found, and one more from Java, altogether 6 of the 12 genera referred to the order. The continental ones are Olax, Gompandra, Opilia, Ximinia, and Balanites. Olax is also found on the banks of the Congo, while the three last are found in Senegal, and apparently the same species. Ximenia Americana is common to three quarters of the globe. Balanites is equally a native of India and of Africa, and has been well described by Roxburgh under the name of Ximenia Ægyptiaca. Of this genus I possess specimens and drawings, the latter of which will shortly be published in my Icones. The genus-Olax extends from Ceylon northwards to the Himalayas, and from Malabar eastwards to Java, while Spermaxyrum, a genus scarcely distinct, represents it in New Holland. With this almost unlimited range, in respect to longitude in its distribution over the torrid zone, this order can scarcely boast of more than 30 known species, about 20 of which are natives of India and her islands, but this list I feel assured will soon be extended, now that the characters of the order are becoming better known.
Properties and Uses. Little is yet known of these. In Ceylon, it is said the leaves of Olax Zeylanica are used as pot-herbs, and as salads, whence they have received a native name synonymous, with " tree salads," a designation which does not seem limited to one plant, since I have met with a very different one in gardens about Madras, under the name of " Tree Lettuce" referable to the order Nyctagineœ, apparently a species of Pisonia. The rind of the fruit of Ximenia Americana is described as bitter and astringent, the flesh as purgative, and the kernel sweet and pleasant tasted. Roxburgh in his Flora Indica 2 fig. 253, remarks of this shrub. " The ripe fruits are eaten raw by the natives : their taste is a compound of sour and bitter, the kernels are also eaten, and taste much like fresh filberts. The wood is yellow, like sandal, and its powder is often substituted for that of sandal by the Brahmins in this part of the coast in their religious ceremonies." The nut of Balanites Ægyptiaca is covered by a quantity of soft pulp, not inaptly compared by Roxburgh to soft soap " intensely bitter, and having an offensive greasy smell." The nut itself, is exceedingly hard, and is employed in fireworks. For this purpose a small hole is drilled in it, the kernel extracted, and the shell filled with powder, when fired it bursts with a loud report. Such is the only use to which it seems to be applied in India. The authors of the Flora Senegambiæ inform us that the flowers are very fragrant, that the pulp previous to maturity is a strong purgative, having an acrid bitter taste, exciting for a long time a burning pain in the throat, but that, when perfectly ripe, it has an agreeable taste and is eat with pleasure by the Negroes. The wood which is of a yellow colour is very hard, and in Africa esteemed excellent for making furniture.
Remarks on Genera and Species. As above remarked 5 genera of this order are now known to exist in India, these are Opilia, Olax, Ximenia, Gomphandra, and Balanites, The first of these, the true place of which in the natural system was long unknown, was satisfactorily determined about the same time by Messrs. Guillemin and Perrottet, and by Mr. Arnott and myself, though we were not aware at the time that ours was that plant. Of this genus only one species has yet been found in India, Opilia amentacea Roxburgh, to which our Ximenia olacioides must be referred, as being founded on a specimen of that plant in fruit, which at the time we wrote Was unknown tous, but which I have at length succeeded in determining by comparison with specimens in fruit, taken from plants still in flower. Whether the Senegambian species (Groutea celtidifolia of the authers of that flora), be the same, I am not quite certain, but think it is distinct. Of the genus Olax, several species are found, both in India and Ceylon, Wallich in his list enumerates 10 species, but perhaps not all genuine. Ximenia Americana is common to America, the west coast of Africa and India; and is remarkable for having its stamens opposed by pairs to the petals and not alternately opposite, which is the more usual structure. Stemonurus referred here by Dr. Meisner, was established by Blume, in his Javanese Flora, and referred by him to Santalaceæ, with which it certainly does not associate so well. This genus as above remarked seems very nearly allied to, if not identical with Wallich's Gomphandra as defined by Lindley in his natural system of Botany, page 439, with this difference, that. Wallich's plant has 4 in place of 5 or 6 sepals, petals, and stamens, and unisexual in place of usually bisexual flowers. Of both these genera I now possess specimens, the former from Maulmain, and the latter from Ceylon, Courtallum, the Pulneys and elsewhere. In Gomphandra, the flowers are 4 or 5 petaled, unisexual by abortion, the male ones having rudimentary ovaries, the female ones sterile stamens. The ovaries are 1 -celled, with 2 long pendulous ovules, surmounted by a very large sessile stigma.
Professor Meisner in his tables distributes the genera under two principal sections, those with simple, and those with bifoliolate leaves. The first division is further divided into two sub-sections, those with fleshy indehiscent fruit, and those having a capsule dehising at the apex. The last sub-section has only one genus, and that referred here with a doubt, The remaining genera are then thus disposed — " Antheriferous stamens fewer than the petals — Olax, Spermaxyrum, and Fissilia. The two last are probably not distinct from the first. — Stamens more numerous than the petals without sterile ones, calyx minute, Ximenia, &c. — Stamens equalling the number of petals and hypogynous, flowers often unisexual. Stemonurus, Gomphandra, and Opilia, belong to this section, but are not placed here by Meisner, the first from his not knowing any thing of the genus, the last owing to his supposing the flowers apetalous, which is not the case, Gomphandra is not in his list. I subjoin generic characters of Opilia, Stemonurus, Gomphandra , and Balanites, which have not yet been introduced info our Prodromus, though I now possess peninsular specimens of all except Stemonurus, and of that I think I have Peninsular specimens, but do not feel quite certain.
Opilia. — Roxburgh, — (Grontea Flor. Senegam.) Calyx very short, truncated, concreted with the torus, and not afterwards enlarging. Petals 5 inserted into the margin of the calyx, oblong, linear, at first slightly cohering at the base by their margins, afterwards distinct and revolute. Stamens 5, opposite the petals, inserted with, but distinct from them. Glands 5, alternate with the stamens thick and fleshy, truncated, about as long as the ovary. Ovary oblong, solid below, 1-celled in its upper part. Ovule solitary, pendulous from the apex of a central placenta that rises from the bottom of the cell. Style none, stigma of 3 blunt points, fruit drupacious (at first fleshy afterwards coriaceous, becoming when dry crustacious) one seeded. Albumen amigdaloidal. Embryo cylindrical, slender in the axis of the albumen, and nearly of the same length. Cotyledons semi-terate long conferruminate; radicle short, obtuse, superior. — Small trees, with slender branches, alternate short petioled, quits entire, or slightly serrated, glabrous, shining, leaves, the petiols jointed at the base. Racemes axillary, at first closely imbricated with small peltate roundish 2-4 flowered caducous scales. Flowers small, greenish yellow.
O. Amentucea Roxb. Cor. Plants and Flora Indica.
Ximenia Olacioides, W. and A. Prod, page 89. Found in hilly tracts of country. Roxburgh found it in the Circars, and I have recently received profusion of specimens from the hills in the neighbourhood of Madras. I also have it from the Pulneys, but how much further south it extends I am unable to say. With the aid of these recent acquisitions which are both in flower and fruit I have ascertained that our Ximenia olacioides is this plant, on which account I have extracted from that work the character of the fruit, to complete the generic character. It seems probable, judging from Roxburgh's figure of the fruit; that there are 2 species, but I refrain from characterizing them until I have seen specimens from the Circars.
STEMONURUS.
This character which is copied from Blume's Flora of Java, I have been induced to introduce, under the conviction that species of the genus exist in the Peninsula, and that I actually possess specimens, though I am for the present enable to find them. The genus appears very nearly allied to Gomphandra, perhaps too much so, but still they are so far distinct, that I do not, in the present state of my information feel myself justified in uniting them. The following character of Gomphandra is taken partly from the imperfect one given by Dr. Lindley in his Natural System of Botany, page 439, but mainly from the examination of my own specimens.
Gomphandra. — Wall. — Flowers by abortion unisexual. Calyx 4-5 toothed. Corolla 4-5 petaled, inappendiculate, inflexed at the apex, glabrous, or clothed with clavate hairs. Stamens 4-5 somewhat clavate; filaments compressed free, or slightly united, forming a tube round the ovary. Male flowers, anthers 2-celled, cells contiguous parallel, partly immersed in the apex, of the filament, the back, and under the cells crested with matted or clavate hairs, ovary rudimentary. Female flowers, calyx corolla, and filaments as in the male, anthers empty of pollen. Ovary large, (equalling the petals) 1-celled, with 2 oblong pendulous clavate ovules suspended from the apex. Stigma sessile, large, covering the whole apex of the ovary. Fruit, a dry coriaceous drupe, 1-2 seeded. Shrubs or small trees/ with simple, alternate leaves, axillary,
many flowered, dichotomous cymes, and small greenish yellow flowers, numerous on the male, few on the female plant.
The peninsular species so far as T have yet seen, have glabrous flowers, the Silhet one, from which Lindley's character is taken, has hairy petals : in mine, as in his, each petal is terminated by an inflexed bristle-like point, which during aestivation hooks in between the anthers. My specimens are derived from the alpine jungles of the southern provinces, and from Ceylon. Dr. Wallich in his list names two species, and refers to others as probably included among his species of Olax. To these last it seems probable some of mine are referable. Respecting the two named G. axillaris and G. penangiana, Dr. Arnott observes, in an article in the Annales des Sciences Naturelle, that they are not truly congeners. The grounds on which this opinion is formed are not stated, but I presume he must have seen both plants before he hazarded such a statement.
Balanites. — Delile — Calyx of 5 sepals, villous, caducous. Corolla 5 petals, a little longer than the calyx ; petals lanceolate, attenuated at the base. Stamens 10, filaments subulate. Anthers 2-celled, attached by the back. Ovary, surrounded by a plaited glandular disk, oblong, very villous, 5-celled, 5-ovuled. Style erect, filiform ; stigma capitate. Drupe ovoid, acute, by abortion, 1-celled, 1-seeded, ^ith a woody 5-angled nut. Seed pendulous; testa fibrous, the endoplura thickened round the radicle. Embryo straight ; radicle superior ; cotyledons semi-ovate, plumula diphyllous.
A tree 20-30 feet high, leaves alternate, bifoliolate, spines axillary, pedicels 1 -flowered, aggregated flowers, small, whitish.
The Indian plant differs from the African, in having nearly globose, very obtuse fruit, in place of ovoid and acute as described above, whence it may perhaps prove a distinct species.
GOMPHANDRA.
The determination of the species of this genus appears most difficult, one not knowing whether to consider the very various and well marked forms, species or varieties. Among my specimens there are no fewer than five very distinct forms, which would, I have no doubt, and perhaps justly, be considered by many Botanists so many distinct species. For myself, having an objection to the multiplication of species unless on very good grounds, I prefer the inflorescence being the same and the fruit unknown in all, viewing them as varieties of one, but will indicate each form, by a distinct name and character, expressive of the form of its foliage; leaving to others to determine whether they are species or varieties
G. polymorpha R. W. dioicous, glabrous, leaves short petioied, acuminated, membranacious : cymes axillary, solitary or in pairs, about the length of the petiol, male many, female few (2-5) flowered: calyx entire, minutely 4-5 toothed : Petals 4-5, united below into a tubular corolla, glabrous : stamens projecting; anthers crested with a minute tuft of hair : fruit ovoid.
Courtallum and Ceylon in thick jungles.
a. acuminata, leaves oval, very broad in the middle, attenuated at both ends, and terminating in a longish linear acumen.
B. oblongifolia, leaves linear oblong, obtuse at both ends, ending in a short abrupt, usually blunt, acumen, (4-5 inches long and about 2 broad).
Y. angustifolia, leaves narrow, linear, lanceolate, acute at the base, acuminated above, (3-4 inches long, scarcely 1 broad, flowers often pentandrous).
B. longifolia, leaves linear, rounded at the base, acuminated at the apex, about 3 times as long as broad, (5-7 inches long 1½-2 broad).
e. ovalifolia, leaves oval, obtuse at both ends, or shortly and obtusely acuminated at the point, (2½-3 inches long by 1½ broad).
G. coriacea, dioicous, male cymes axillary, few flowered; female flowers, solitary, or 2 or 3 racemose : fruit oblong, cylindrical, leaves coriaceous from oval, attenuated at both ends, to obovate cuneate; flowers tetrandrous.
Pulneys — a very distinct species, but the written characters, do not so clearly indicate the differences between this and the preceding, as the eye.
EXPLANATION OF PLATE 40.
1. Opilia amentacea — natural size.
2. A scale of the amentum with its enclosed flower-buds.
3. The same outside view.
4. A flower showing the petals, stamens, glands and ovary —5. Detached stamens.
6. The ovary cut vertically, showing the solitary pendulous ovule,
7. A full grown fruit.
8. The same cut transversely, showing the central cylindrical embryo.
9. The same cut lengthwise to shew the whole length of the embryo. This last figure through injudicious shading does not give a correct idea of the object represented.
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OPILIA AMENTACEA (Roxb.)