Characters of the Botanical Alliances. 131 



sepals or divisions, often coriaceous, persistent (exc. Pittos|X)- 

 raceae). Corolline divisions not fewer than those of the calyx, 

 and if more then in a double series, alternating. Petals more 

 or less connate or conniving or valvate at the base. Torus not 

 developed. Stamens not fewer than the calycine divisions; 

 anthers bilocular, without appendages, dehiscing longitudinally 

 inwards. Carpels connate with each other, dissepiments tend- 

 ing to absorption, free from the calyx or rarely subadherent 

 (Samoleae, Styraceae). Ovules not parietal. Albumen rarely ab- 

 sent (jiEgiceras, Brexia), not farinaceous, enclosing the embryo ; 

 embryo straight or nearly so, radicle not antitropous. 

 Inclining to a warm habitat. 



23. RuTALEs. — Not lactescent. Sexes united or not affect- 

 ing the floral envelopes. Calyx of 3 or 4 or 5 divisions, odd 

 one inferior, imbricate or valvate. Corolline divisions alter- 

 nating with those of the calyx, sooner or later larger than 

 those of the calyx. Stamens inserted with the petals, definite 

 (exc. some Ochnaceae), not adelphous (exc. some Rutaceae) ; 

 anthers bilocular, introrse. Carpels not exceeding the number 

 of petals (if any), distinct or appearing as distinct ribs of the 

 ovary, gynobaseose, free from the calyx. Stigmas not sessile, 

 styles tending to unite above. Pericarp double, the exterior 

 fleshy or coriaceous, the interior cartilaginous or membranous. 

 Placenta central; ovules definite (exc. some Rutaceas). 



Inclining to a warm habitat. 



24. Malvales. — Branches round, hairs (if present) usually 

 stellate ; leaves alternate, petioled, simple ; stipules very rarely 

 absent, free. Calyx valvate in the bud or ruptile or irregular. 

 Petals (when present) as many as the calycine divisions, alter- 

 nating, hypogynous, twisted or convolute in the bud. Stamens 

 hypogynous, a multiple of the petals or indefinite, monadelphous 

 or within a long tubular calyx. Carpels forming independent 

 cells, verticillate or connate in the bud (exc. perhaps Chris- 

 tiania, Malope, Sterculia, Erythropsis), free from the calyx. 

 Ovules at the inner angle. 



Inclining to a warm habitat. 



25. Laurales. — Arboreous or frutescent or parasitic ; leaves 

 (if any) petioled, simple. Stipules 0. Flowers not solitary. 

 Calycine divisions (if any) 3-10, sepals more or less connate, 



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