186 



FAMILIES OF FLOWEKING PLANTS 



ovary 1-celled, stalked, with 3 styles; fruit 1-celled, either a dry or 

 pulpy capsule. The flower of Passiflora is peculiar in having the fila- 

 mentous processes disposed in a ring within the petals, so that they 

 appear like stamens. This is shown in Fig. 165, and is called the crown 

 or corona. 



Most of the species of Passion-flower are natives of South America; 

 a few reach our southern borders, and two (P. latea and P. incarnata) 

 extend as far north as Washington. The latter species is an extremely 

 abundant weed in the South, where it is known as " may-i)ops," from 

 the yellow, edible fruit. Many species are in cultivation in our gardens. 



£MP 



Fig. i66. Flower and leaf of Mentselia decapetala, considerably reduced. Original. 



The name Passion-flower has been given to the plant on account of 

 the symbolic numbers which its various parts exhibit; " thus the three 

 nails — two for the hands, one for the feet — are represented by the stig- 

 mas; the five anthers indicate the five wounds; the rays of glory, or, 

 some say, the crown of thorns, are represented by the rays of the ' co- 

 rona ;' the ten parts of the perianth represent the Apostles, two of them 

 absent — Peter who denied, and Judas who betrayed our Lord; and the 

 wicked hands of His persecutors are seen in the digitate leaves of the 

 plant, and the scourges in the tendrils." — {Treasury of Botany.) 



Family Achariaceae. Acharia Family. Contains 3 genera, each 

 with a single species, the plants formerly included in the preceding 

 group. 



Family Caricaceae. Papaya Family. Two genera, Carica, with 



