Flora Medica

PORLIERIA.441. P. hygrometrica H. and P. syst. 94. DC. prodr.\. 707. A. de J. rutac. 74. Waste places in Chili and Peru.(Turucasa.)A hard-wooded, rigid, scrubby, grey-barked bush. Leaves opposite,usually as if fasciculated in consequence of the shortness of the lateralbranches, with 2 short spiny stipules, abruptly pinnated ; leaflets closingat the approach of rain, in 4^6 pairs, very small, linear-oblong, emarginate,smooth, sessile j petiole slightly downy. Peduncles clusteredand solitary, terminal, downy, 1-flowered. Properties similar to thoseof Guaiacum.XANTHOXYLACE^E.Nat. syst.ed. 2. p. 135.PTELEA.Flowers unisexual. Calyx short, 4-5-parted. Petals 4-5,longer than the calyx, spreading. $ Stamens . 4-5, longer thanthe petals filaments thickened and; hairy at the base, insertedround a receptacle bearing an abortive pistil. J Stamens 4-5,.very short, with abortive anthers. Ovary upon a convex receptacle,compressed, 2-celled. Fruit compressed, membranous indehiscent,turgid in the middle, surrounded by an orbicular wing.442. P. trifoliata Linn. sp. pi. 173. Willd. i. 670.Torrey fl. i. 189. Duh. arb. t. 43 Shady moist hedges andedges of woods, among rocks in the United States.A shrub 6-8 feet high. Leaves ternate, with pellucid dots ; leafletsoblong, acuminate, sessile, downy beneath, crenulate or obscurelytoothed. Flowers greenish white in terminal spreading panicles.Young green shoots anthelmintic. Fruit aromatic and bitter, and agood substitute for hops.XANTHOXYLON.Dioecious. Calyx short, 3-4-5-partite. Petals as many andlonger than the sepals, very rarely wanting. $ . Stamens asmany as the petals, equal to or longer than them, inserted roundthe base of the gynophore. Pistillum rudimentary, simple orcompound. $ Stamens . usually wanting, sometimes very short,and either with or without abortive anthers. Ovaries (1-5) asmany as the petals or fewer, seated on a globose or cylindricalgynophore : ovules 2 in each cell, suspended, collateral. Styles1 from the apex of each ovary, either distinct or united at theapex, sometimes very short or scarcely any. Capsules 1-5,215 P 4