POLYGAMY. 27 



An acrid principle exists in Drosera ; and according to Descourtilz one species of this 

 genus is applied as a blister in the West Indies. 



1. DROSERA, L. 



Calyx (4)-5-(8)-partite. Petals marcescent, (4)-5-(8). Stamens of the same number : 

 anthers extrorse. Ovary unilocular, with 3-5 parietal placentas ; ovules several or indefinite. 



Sect. Rossolis. — Stamens 5. Style tripartite, divisions bipartite. Stem simple, rolled 

 up during development, usually leafless, rosulate at the base ; leaves bearing scariose 

 stipules in the axils. 



1. D. longifolia, Sm. Stems glabrous, lateral, ascending ; leaves all rosulate, spalhu- 

 late, shorter than the petiole : fringes equalling the diameter of the limb ; flowers several 

 (2-12) ; calyx glabrous, exceeded by the capsule ; seeds spathulate-oblong : testa appressed, 

 pimpled. — D. intermedia, Hayn. 



$. americana, DC. Stems slender (5"-6" long), much exceeding the leave3 ; pedicels 

 distant, filiform, equalling the capsule. — D. americana, W. D. intermedia, var. elatior, 

 Planch. — Hab. Trinidad !, Cr. ; [the variety inhabits eastern America, from Canada to 

 South Brazil; o. is known to be European]. 



2. D. tenella, Kth. Stem glabrous, 2-3-flowered ; leaves all rosular, roundish, as long 

 as the petiole : fringes shorter than the diameter of the limb ; stipules 3-5-partite, segments 

 2-3-tid; seeds oblong, pimpled. — Kth. Nov. Gen. 5. t. 490. f. 2. — Stem about 3" high, 

 slender; leaves minute, fringed on the margin and upper side. — Hab. Trinidad !, Lockh. ; 

 [Venezuela to extra-tropical Brazil !]. 



XVIII. POLYGALEyE. Ao^n. 



Flowers asymmetrical : the two outer whorls arranged in a quinary, the third and usually 

 the fourth in a binary order. Stamens hypogynous, definite, mostly diadelphous : anthers 

 dehiscent by pores. Pistil syncarpous, bilocular, rarely reduced and monocarpellary : ovules 

 pendidous, 1 (-2) : inner integument fleshy. Embryo included in the axis of a thin layer of 

 perisperm, or exalbuminous : cotyledons fo'.iaceous. — -Leaves entire, without stipules. 



Saponin is the prevailing principle of the Order, usually together with a bitter substance, 

 which is highly esteemed in medicine. Catocoma is used against syphilis in Trinidad (Cr.). 

 The anomalous genus Krameria is peculiarly rich in Tannic Acid (Eatanhia). 



1. POLYGALA, L. 



Sepals 5, the two lateral ones larger, coloured* (wings). Petals 3 by abortion, partly 

 coherent : the anterior (keel) diflbrm. Stamens diadelphous, 8 (-6), adherent to the corolla : 

 anthers unilocular, dehiscent by a terminal pore. Capsule compressed, bilocular, loculicide : 

 seeds caruncled, albuminous. — Herbs or shrubs ; flowers mostly racemose or spicate : pedi- 

 cels usually articulated and tribracteolate at or near the base. 



Sect. 1. Timutua. — Keel cristate. Upper lip of stigma cucullate, bearded at the in- 

 curved top. Caruncle bipartite, with the segments appressed to the testa, or minute. 



1. P. Timoutou, Aubl. Annual ; glabrescent; leaves elliptical-oblong, inferior verti- 

 cillate ; flowers spicate: spikes terminal, cylindrical, compact; style slender, dilated up- 

 wards : upper lip of stigma large, cucullate, under lip short, cylindrical ; capsule ovate, 

 shortly emarginate ; seeds oblong, shortly tapering at the base, puberulous, black : segments 

 of the caruncle white, unilateral, oblong-linear, blunt, shortly exceeded by the extremity of 

 the testa. — Aubl. t. 295.— Stem slender, spithameous or dwarfish, angular ; leaves 8"'-4"' long, 

 subsessile, pointed or bluntisb, inferior 2-4 in the whorl ; flowers purpurascent, sessile : 

 wings ovate, equalling the corolla ; petals coherent to the middle. — Hab. Trinidad !, on the 

 savannahs: Pd., Cr. ; [Guiana!, Piauhy!]. 



2. P. longicaulis, Kth. Annual ; glabrous ; leaves linear, scattered ; racemes ter- 

 minal, capituliform : pedicels equalling the inferior glanduliferous sepals; wings mu- 

 cronate ; petals cohering above the middle ; style slender, dilated upwards : upper lip of 



