394 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE NATURAL ORDERS. 



albumen. Embryo curved, or variously coiled or bent. — Ex. Cistus, 

 Ilelianthemum : a small family ; the flowers often showy. No im- 

 portant properties. Several exude a balsamic resin, such as Lada- 

 num from a Cistus of the Levant. 



750. Ol'd. DroSCraceCD {Sundeio Family). Small herbs, growing in 

 swamps, usually covered with gland-bearing hairs ; with the leaves 

 rolled up from the apex to the base in vernation (circinnate) : stip- 

 ules none, except a fringe of hairs or bristles at the base of the 

 petioles. Calyx of five equal sepals, persistent. Corolla of five 

 regular petals, withering and persistent, convolute in aestivation. 

 Stamens as many as the petals and alternate with them, or some- 

 times, two or three times as many, distinct, withering ; anthers ex- 

 trorse. Styles three to five, distinct or nearly so, and each two- 

 parted (so as to be taken for ten styles. Fig. 510), and these divis- 

 ions sometimes two-lobed or many-cleft at the apex. Fruit a one- 

 celled capsule, opening loculicidally by three to five valves, with 

 three to five parietal placentae ; in Dionaea membranaceous, burst- 

 ing irregularly, and with a thick placenta at the base. Seeds usu- 

 ally numerous. Embryo small, at the base of cartilaginous or fleshy 

 albumen. — Ex. Dro.scra, the Sundew ; and Diontea (Venus's Fly- 

 trap, Fig. 297, 298), so remarkable for its sensitive leaves, which 

 suddenly close when touched. The styles of the latter are all united 

 into one. 



7G0. Ol'd. ParnaSsiacCiC is for the present made for the genus Par- 

 nassia, which was formerly appended to Droseraceae (for no good 

 reason), and has since been placed by some next to Ilypericaceaj, by 

 others referred to Saxifragaceae. It is remarkable for having tlie 

 four or five stigmas situated directly over the parietal placentae (p. 

 294, note), and for the curious appendages resembling sterile sta- 

 mens before each petal (Fig. 380, 381). 



7G1. Ord. HypericaCClE {St. Jofmsu-ort Family). Shrubs or herbs, 

 with a resinous or limpid juice, and opposite entire leaves, destitute 

 of stipules, and punctate with pellucid or blackish dots. Flowers 

 regular. Calyx of four or five persistent sepals, the two exterior 

 often smaller. Petals four or five, convolute in asstivation, often 

 beset with black dots. Stamens commonly polyadelphous and numer- 

 ous. Ovary one-celled with parietal placentas, or 4 - o-celled (Fig. 

 375, 497, 498, 508, 509). Capsule with septicidal dehiscence (Fig. 

 582), many-seeded. — Ex. Hypericum (St. Johnswort) is the type 

 of this small family. Embryo straight ; albumen little or none. 



