The true place of Moringa seems to be near Xanthophyllum with which genus it has some remarkable points of resemblance, witness the papilionaceous corolla; unilocular stamina, their situation, ovary, placentation, and lastly glandulation.
To this Lindley has made an approximation by placing the order near Violarieæ. Its chief difference from Polygaleæ, is habit, foliation, and the perigynous insertion of corolla and stamina, and consequent union of the sepals. As in Xanthophyllum there is no albumen.
(An additional Xanthop. which until to-day I have always taken for a Leguminosa.)
Tamarindus cal 4 partitus, sepals 2, superiorib. connatis. Pet. 3, vexillo, sepalo postico composit; opposit; stamen tria; sepalis 3, inferior opposita. Stylus æstivation deflexus.
Pedicelli apice articulat. Folii petiol. basi articulat. Stipulæ minimæ stipellæ.
In Jonesia, there are no petals. Humboldtia comes near Tamarindus, through H. Brunonis, which agrees in calyx and petals.
Thorns of Prionites, what are they? They are axillary, and yet buds are produced between them and the axis. They have no connection with the leaves. Were it not for the buds above alluded to, I should say that they were abortive branches (bearing one pair of leaves) reduced to spines.
Olacineæ. Certainly in habit, corolla, etc. Olacineæ are allied to Aurantiaceæ, but they are nearer akin to Santalaceæ. The processes are indubitably modified stamina, with a great tendency to irregularity; in one species from Tagoung only three fertile, and five sterile stamina were observed: the three fertile generally, but not invariably, alternate with the petals.
To Santalaceæ they approach in processes, valvate corolla, and placentation, also to Loranthaceæ.
Eight stamina thus accounted for; when two opposed to petals, belong to outer series—also single one.