Illustrations of Indian Botany, Vol. 1/Rutaceae
XLVIII.—RUTACEAE.
In Indian Botany this is a very unimportant order, three species only having as yet been found in the Peninsula, and one at least of these, Ruta angustifolia, a doubtful native. Of the section Diasmeae, by for the larger of the two into which it is divided, only one species Dictarnnm Hiinilayaaus, has been found in all India and that confined to the Himalayas. Cyminosma is the only genus of Rutaceae which I have found unequivocally native, and it is a very abundant tree in subalpine jungles all over the country.
"Flowers bisexual, regular. Calyx 4-5 divided. Petals alternate with the sepals : eestivation between twisted and convolute, rarely valvular. Stamens twice or rarely thrice as many as the petals, inserted round the base of the torus : anthers 2-celled, opening longitudinally. Torus various, discoid, or elevated, or cup-shaped. Ovary usually more or less deeply 3-5 partite, 3-5 celled: ovules in each cell 2 4, or 6 12, or numerous, pendulous, or partly pendulous, or adnate to the placentas : styles combined, or in the deeply lobed ovaries distinct at the base and combined upwards: stigma 3-5 angled or furrowed. Capsule usually 4-5 lobed, the lobes opening internally at the apex: rarely 3-valved and loculicide, or a 4-celled drupe:
sarcocarp and endocarp combined. Seeds by abortion, often fewer than the ovules, pendulous or adnate. Embryo contained in the fleshy albumen : radicle superior : cotyledons flat. — Leaves exstipulate (except in Peganum), alternate (except in Cyminosma), simple, or deeply lobed, or rarely pinnated, usually with pellucid dots."
Affinities. This order is so nearly allied to those among which it is placed that most Botanists consider them alias forming either a class or one order divisible into so many suborders. These are Zygophylleae, Ruieae, Diosmeae, Zanthoxylleae, and Simarubeae, to which perhaps Connaraceae and Ochnaceae might be added as both possess the gynobasic structure and other characters associating them with this group or alliance, though differing in many others which it is necessary to take into account in determining affinities.
Geographical Distribution. Every quarter of the globe boasts of members of this family. • Europe has species of Peganum Rata and Aplopkyllum. India has, in addition to these, Cyminosma, all referable to the first section Ruteae : while to the 2d section, Diosmeae, a species of Didamnus is found in each.
The Diosmeae abound about the Cape of Good Hope, in South America, and in New Hol- land. Most of these being handsome flowering shrubs some of them might be advantageously introduced into India, as the climates of which they are natives sufficiently accords with that of this country to hold out the prospect of success in any such attempt.
Properties and Uses. Bitterness and a strong heavy odour are the prominent peculiarities of most of the species of this order. In Europe the common rue is employed, but now only to a limited extent, in medicine. The Diosmas or Bucka plants of the Cape are well known on account of their very offensive smell : they are used there as Antispasmodics. Some of the American species are esteemed very powerful febrifuges, especially the Angustura bark, the produce of Cusparia febrifuga, one of the Diosmeae. There are several other American species celebrated for the possession of similar properties, but to which it is useless to allude here where they are quite unknown.
Remarks on Genera and Species. Under this head I have nothing to offer as I only know three or four species, and none of them call any remark.
EXPLANATION OF PLATE 65.
1. Cyminosma pedunculata — natural size.
2. An expanded flower.
3. A petal.
4. Stamens.
5. Ovary cut vertically.
tj. transversely.
7. A fruit not quite mature — natural site.
8. cut transversely, to show its 4 cells,
9. A seed — natural size.
10. The same.
11. Testa removed.
12. Cut longitudinally, showing the embryo and albumen in situ.
13. Embryo removed, foliaceous — all, with the excep- tions mentioned, more or less magnified.
RUTACEÆ.jpg)
CYMINOSMA PEDUNCULATA. (DC.)