484 DICOTYLEDONES. 



veins. The flower is perigynous or epigynous ; its type i^that of the Onagraceae 

 (4-5-merous ; 1 whorl of sepals, petals and carpels, 2 of stamens) ; the calyx 

 is valvate, the corolla is twisted (to the left) in asstivation ; the stamens are 

 very characteristic ; in the bud they are geniculate ; the anther opens in the 

 often long, beak-like, prolonged point, with 1, less frequently with 2 pores, and 

 has generally ear-like appendages at its base. The fruit is a berry or cap- 

 sule. These large and beautiful flowering-plants play a very important part in 

 South American landscapes ; otherwise they are of slight importance (a few are 

 cultivated in conservatories, e.g. Centradenia, Medinilla, Lasiundra, Tibouchina, 

 Miconia, etc.). 



Order 4. CEnotheraceae (or Onagraceae). The flowers are 

 arranged in racemes or spikes, , epigynous, regular, polypetalous, 

 4-merous in all 5 ivhorls (1 whorl of sepals, petals and carpels, 2 of 

 stamens) ; 2-3 5 6-merous flowers are less frequent ; the calyx is 

 valvate, the corolla twisted in aestivation (the left edge being covered). 

 Grynoeceum simple with multilocular ovary; the style is undivided, 

 filiform, and bears a capitate or 4-partite stigma ; endosperm want- 

 ing ; embryo straight. The majority are herbs, especially water- 

 and marsh-plants; several are shrubs. No essential oils. The leaves 

 are alternate or opposite, always single, and without (or with very 

 small) stipules. The odourless flowers sometimes have a coloured calyx. 

 In some instances (e.g. (Enothera, Fiielisia) the receptacle is prolonged more or 

 less beyond the inferior ovary, and finally falls off. The stamens are obdiplos- 

 temonous (carpels epipetalous) ; the petal-stamens are sometimes suppressed. 

 The anthers in some genera are divided into storeys. The well-pronounced, 

 triangular pollen-grains are connected together by viscous threads. Small 

 stipules are sometimes found, e.g. Fuchsia, Lopezia. 



A. Fruit a capsule. (Enothera (Evening Primrose) is 4- 

 merous, has 8 stamens, a tubular receptacle, and an oblong capsule 



FIG. 521. Flower of Lopezin. 



withloculicidal dehiscence leaving a centrally placed column, bear- 

 ing the seeds. -Epilol>ium (Willow-herb) deviates from (Enothera 

 especially in the seeds being haii-y (at the chain zal end of the seed). 

 Chamtenerium is a Willow-herb with zygomorphic flowers. The 



