130 FAMILIES OF FLOWERING PLANTS 



which are often united into a single genus under the former name. 

 Amygdalus, the peach, though not originally a native of our country, 

 has become extensively naturalized as an escape from cultivation. 



It will be seen that the Rosaceae and their allies form a well- 

 defined natural group, with remarkable regularity in the appearance of 

 their flowers (so that the term " rosaceous " is in common use) but with 

 great diversity in fruit structure. The reverse is the case in the pea 

 family and its allies, which we shall consider later. A remarkable fea- 

 ture of the Rosaceae is that the color blue seems to be entirely wanting 

 among the flowers of the various genera. 



Family Connaraceae. Connaiais Family. This is a connecting 

 link between the great groups already discussed and those which will 

 follow. It contains about 160 species of tropical climbing shrubs, dis- 

 posed in 16 genera, of which Connarus and Rourea are the most import- 

 ant. They have flowers of the leguminous type, but the ovary is com- 

 posed of several carpels. 



