90 LAURI, POLYGONEiE. [CI. 6. 



Ord. 27. Lauri. "Calyx in 6 divisions, perma- 

 nent, bearing 6 Stamens from the base of it's seg- 

 ments, in some instances accompanied by an inner 

 row of the same number. Anthers adhering to each 

 filament, and bursting from the base upwards. Ger- 

 men superior. Style 1. Drupa or Berry of 1 cell, 

 with 1 seed. Albumen none. Stem arboreous or 

 shrubby. Leaves generally alternate." 



Laurus, fig. 161, is the type of this Order, to 

 which Mr. Brown adds Tetranthera of Jacquin, and 

 Cassytha Linn., with some new genera. Myristica 

 and Hernandia are considered as bordering upon it. 



There is always something peculiar in the struc- 

 ture of the Stamens in Lauri ; they are remarkably 

 compound, as it were, or aggregate, in a manner 

 scarcely observable elsewhere. 



Ord. 28. Polygone^e. "Calyx of 1 leaf, divided, 

 (coloured,) bearing the Stamens from it's base. Ger- 

 men simple, superior. Stigmas several, often sessile. 

 Seed 1, naked, or enveloped in the permanent Calyx. 

 Embryo immersed in a farinaceous Albumen. Leaves 

 alternate, each inserted into an annular, or sheathing, 

 intrafoliaceousStipula, or sheathing Footstalk; young 

 ones revolute. Stem generally herbaceous." 



Polygonum, fig. 162, Ramex, Rheum, are the chief 

 genera. 



In the first the Stamens can hardly be called, with 

 Jussieu, definite. They are 5, 6, 8, or 9, bearing no 

 analogy to the Calyx, which is 5-cleft. Styles or 



