[Chap. LI SOME FAMILIES OF FLOWERING PLANTS 707 



flower have been derived. It has recently been found that members 

 of the cabbage group are richer in vitamin C than citrus fruits. There 

 are about 2000 species distributed among 200 genera. 



The rose family (Rosaceae). The members of the rose family are 

 world-wide in distribution, and economically valuable for both their 



Fig. 344. Floral structures of a rose {Rosa moschata) . 



flowers and their fruits. They are perennial herbs, shrubs, or trees. The 

 flowers are usually bisexual, with five sepals, five petals, and often 

 numerous stamens and carpels ( Fig. 344 ) . There are many horticultural 

 varieties in which the number of petals is increased many times, as in 



