THE DICOTYLEDONS 555 
tendrils for support. Leaves simple, usually alternate and 
stipulate. Inflorescence cymose. Flowers hermaphrodite or 
more or less diclinous, pentamerous to tetramerous, greenish to 
greenish-yellow to yellowish-white; sepals five to four; petals 
five to four alternating with sepals; stamens five opposite the 
Fic. 421.—Alder Buckthorn or Rhamnus Frangula—Branch. (Sayre.) 
petals, perigynous; pistil either free in center of receptacular 
cup or more or less fused with it and so semi-inferior, ovary 
typically three-celled, becoming rarely four-celled with two to 
one atropous ovules in each cavity. Fruit of three indehiscent 
cocci, each enclosing a single albuminous seed with straight 
embryo imbedded in albumen. 
