fine, and in many respects so nearly approaches to the Hippocraticeæ of Jussieu,[1] that it may be doubted whether they ought not to be united.
In New Holland the Celastrinæ are not numerous, nor do they form any part of its characteristic vegetation: their distribution is somewhat different from that of Rhamneæ, for they are found either in the principal parallel, or within the tropic.
STACKHOUSEÆ.[2] Stackhousia of Dr. Smith,[3] and an unpublished genus, exactly agreeing with it in flower, but remarkably different in fruit, form a small tribe of plants, sufficiently distinct from all the natural orders hitherto established. I have placed it between Celastrinæ and Euphorbiaceæ; to both of which, but especially to the former, it seems to be related in a certain degree.
The Stackhouseæ are peculiar to Terra Australia, and though found chiefly in its principal parallel, extend more sparingly both to the southern extremity of Van Diemen's Island, and to the north coast of New Holland.
EUPHORBIACEÆ.[4] This is an extensive and very general family, of which about 100 species have already been observed in Terra Australia. Of these the greater part exist within the tropic, but the order extends to the southern extremity of Van Diemen's Island, and the greater number of the genera peculiar to this country are found in the principal parallel or higher latitudes.
- ↑ Annales du mus. 18. p. 486.
- ↑ Stackhouseæ. Calyx 1-ph. 5-fidos, æqualis: tubo ventricoso. Petala 5, æqualis, summo tubo calycis inserta: unguibus cohærentibus in tubum calyce longiorem; laminis angustis stellato-patulis. Stamina 5, distincta inæqualia (duo alterna breviora), fauci calycis inserta. Ovarium liberum, 3-5-lobum, lobis discretis, monospermis, ovulise rectis: Styli 3-5, nunc basi cohærentes: Stigmata indivisa. Pericarpium 3-5-coccum, coccis evalvibus, apteris v. alatis; columna centrali persistenti. Embryo erectus axilis, longitudine fere albuminis carnosi.
Herbæ. Folia simplicia, integerrima, sparsa, quandoque minuta: Stipulæ laterales minutissimæ. Spica terminalis; floribus tribracteatis. - ↑ Linn. soc. transact. 4. p. 218.
- ↑ Jus. gen. 384.
