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Manual of the New Zealand Flora.

[Introduction to Order XIX. SapindaceÆ.]

Trees, shrubs, or woody climbers, rarely herbs. Leaves alternate or more rarely opposite, often compound, exstipulate, seldom stipulate. Flowers regular or irregular, generally unisexual or polygamous; inflorescence very various. Calyx 3–5-lobed or of as many free sepals, divisions often unequal in size, imbricate or valvate. Petals 3–5 or wanting, free, equal or unequal, often bearded or glandular at the base within, imbricate. Disc very various, page 102annular or unilateral, rarely wanting. Stamens 5–10, in the great majority of the order (but not in the New Zealand genera) inserted inside the disc at the base of the ovary, more rarely outside or on the disc, sometimes unilateral; anthers basifixed or versatile, 2-celled. Ovary free, central or excentric, entire lobed or partite, 1–4-celled; style simple or divided, usually terminal; ovules 1–2 in each cell, seldom more. Fruit very various, capsular or indehiscent, dry or succulent, entire or lobed, sometimes winged. Seeds globose or compressed, with or without an aril; albumen wanting or more rarely present; embryo generally thick, sometimes folded or spirally twisted, radicle short, inferior.

A polymorphous order, exceedingly difficult to characterize as a whole, and often separated into 3 or 4 distinct ones. As defined above, it comprises about 80 genera and between 600 and 700 species, many of them very imperfectly known. It is chiefly tropical, but extends through both of the temperate zones. The properties of the order are very various. The maples contain a sweetish sap, from which sugar is obtained. Several species of Nephelium, such as the Litchi and Longan, produce some of the most delicious of Asiatic fruits. Many species contain bitter or astringent principles, while others, as some of the American species cf Serjania and Paullinia, are reputed to be poisonous. The two genera found in New Zealand belong to the tribe Dodonœœ, which has regular flowers, stamens inserted outside the disc (not inside), and exalbuminous seeds. Alectryon is endemic, but Dodonœa is most abundant in Australia, extending also through the tropics of both hemispheres.

Leaves simple in the New Zealand species. Disc wanting. Capsule membranous, often winged 1. Dodonæa.
Leaves pinnate. Disc 8-lobed. Capsule woody, turgid 2. Alectryon.