81 



the style proceeds from the base of the carpellum, the ovulum is ascending', 

 in all cases adhering to the ovarium immediately over against the orio-in 

 of the style. A genus usually referred to this order, the Cephalotus of 

 Labillardiere, offers a remarkable exception to the usual characters, in having 

 a coloured calyx, jn the senary division of its flower, and in the presence 

 of ascidia, or pitchers, among its leaves, resembling those of Nepenthes. 

 It is, however, by no means well ascertained that this is the station 

 of Cephalotus, its seeds being unknown. Various kinds of adhesion 

 between the leaves and the stipules take place in the genus Cliffortia, 

 and have given rise to a number of errors ; for an explanation of 

 which, see M. Decandolle's remarks in the Annales des Sciences' Natu- 

 relles, 1. 447. 



Geography. Natives of heaths, hedges, and exposed places in Europe, 

 North and South America beyond the tropics, and the Cape of Good Hope ; 

 in which latter country they represent the Rosaceae of Europe. 



Properties. Their general character is astringency. A decoction of 

 Alchemilla vulgaris is slightly tonic. This is asserted, by Frederick Hoffmann, 

 and others, to have the effect of restoring the faded beauty of ladies to its 

 earliest freshness. Sanguisorba officinalis, or common Burnet, is a useful 

 fodder. A. R. 



Examples. Acaena, Sanguisorba, Margyricarpus. 



LXXIII. ROSACEiE. The Rose Tribe. 



RosacejE, Juss. Gen. 334. in parf (1789); Dec. Prodr. 2. 525. in part (1825); Dec. and 

 Duby Batan. Gall, in part (1828) ; L'lndl. Synops. p. 88. (1829.) 



Diagnosis. Polypetalous dicotyledons, with lateral styles, supeyor 

 simple ovaria, regular perigynous stamens, exalbuminous definite seeds, and 

 alternate stipulate leaves. 



Anomalies. Stipules absent in Lowea. Albumen present in NeilUa, 

 according to Don. The fruit of Spiraea sorbifolia (Schizonotus m.) is 

 capsular. 



Essential Character — Calyx 4- or 5-lobed, with a disk either lining the tube or 

 surrounding the orifice ; the fifth lobe next the axis. Petals 5, perigynous, equal. Stamens 

 indefinite, arising from the calyx, just within the petals, in aestivation. curved inwards; 

 anthers innate, 2-ceIIed, bursting longitudinally. Ovaries superior, either solitary or 

 several, 1-ceUed, sometimes cohering into a plurilocular pistillum; ovula 2, or more, 

 suspended, very rarely erect ; styles lateral ; stigmata usually simple, and emarginate on 

 one side. Fruit either 1 -seeded nuts, or acini, or follicles containing several seeds. Seeds 

 suspended, rarely ascending. Embryo straight, with a taper short radicle pointing to the 

 hilum, and flat cotyledons. Albumen usually almost obliterated when the seeds are ripe ; 

 if present, fleshy — Herbaceous plants or shrubs. Leaves simple or eompound, alternate, 

 with 2 stipulae at their base. 



Affinities. The genera of this order are uniform in their structure 

 and sensible qualities. Neuradeae, at present included, will probably be 

 hereafter removed to a more appropriate station. Distinguished from 

 Pomaceae by their superior fruit and usually suspended seeds ; from Legu- 

 minosae by their regular petals and stamens, and especially by the odd 

 segment of the 5-lobed calyx of that order being anterior, not posterior, 

 as in Rosaceae ; from Chrysobalaneae by their styles proceeding from the 

 side of the ovarium near the apex, and not from the base, by their regular 



