56 



DecancfoUe has the two following sections, the characters of the last of 

 which are not, however, very certainly ascertained to be correct : — 



I. Opuntiacex. 

 Ovula and seeds parietal. 

 Examples. Cactus, Opuntia, Mamniillaria. 



II. RlIIPSALlDE.E. 



Ovula and seeds attached to a central axis. 

 Example. Rhipsalis. 



XLVIl. ONAGRARI^. The Evening Primrose Tribe, 



OvAGRyE, Juss. Gen. 31?. (1789). — Epilobiacete, Vent. Tall. 3. 307- (1790).— 

 OvAGRARi^E, Juss. Ann. Mus. 3. 315. (1804) in part. ; Dec. Prodr. 3. 3&. 

 (1828) ; Lindl. Stjnops. 107- (1829.) 



Diagnosis. Polypetalous dicotyledons, with definite perigynOus sta- 

 mens, concrete carpella, an inferior ovarium of several cells, with indefinite 

 ovula, 4 divisions of the calyx, and roundish anthers erect in {aestivation. 



Anomalies. 



Essential Character Ca^«/.r superior, tubular, with the hmb usually 4-lol)ed ; 



the lobes cohering in various degrees, with a valvate testivation. Petals generally equal in 

 number to the lobes of the calyx, into the throat of which they are inserted, regular, with 

 a twisted ajstivation. Stamens definite, inserted into the calyx; Jilaments distinct; pollen 

 triangular, usually cohering by threads. Ovarium of several cells, generally crowned by a 

 disk ; style filiform ; stiyma either capitate or 4-loI)ed. Fruit baccate or capsular, many- 

 seeded, with from 2 to 4 cells. Seeds numerous, without albumrn ; embryo straight ; radicle 

 long and taper ; cotyledons very short — Herbaceous plants or shrubs. Leaves alternate or 

 opposite, simple, entire, or toothed. Floivers red, purple, white, blue, or yellow, axillary, 

 or terminal. 



Affinities. Onagrarise differ from all the orders allied to them in 

 the length of the radicle ; they are particularly distinguished from Salicariec 

 by their inferior calyx ; from Haloragese by their filiform style, and by their 

 cxalbuminous seeds riot being pendulous ; from Myrtaceaj by the want of 

 pellucid dots, and by the definite number of their stamens. Dec. For 

 the distinctions between them and Hydrocaryes, Callitrichinecc, and Circaja- 

 cese, see those orders. 



The following sections of DecandoUe appear worthy of being adopted : — 



1. MONTINIE.E. 



Fruit capsular. Seeds with a membranous wing, imbricated, erect. — 

 Trees or shrubs, with alternate leaves. 



2. Fuciisie;e. 



Fruit baccate. Tube of the calyx elongated beyond the ovarium. — 

 Chiefly American trees or shrubs, with opposite leaves. 



3. OnAGRE;E. 



Fruit capsular, with mtny-secded cells, and seeds without wings. Tube 

 of the calvx extended beyond the ovarium. Stamens twice as many as the 

 petids. — Herbaceous plants, somttimrs slightly shrubby at the base. 



4. Jt'SSI.KyE. 



Fruit capsular, with many-seeded cells. " Calyx persistent, but not 

 tubuhir.— Herbaceous plants, rarely uuder-shrubs. 



G-KOGHAPiiY. Chiefly natives of the temperate parts of thi' world, and 



