154 



cells, and 3 or 5 valves, which bear the placentae either in the middle or at their base. 

 Seeds either naked or furnished with arillus. Embryo straight, erect, iu the axis of a fleshy 



or cartilaginous albumen. Cotyledons rather thick Delicate herbaceous plants, often 



covered with glands. Leaves alternate, with stipulary ciliae and a circinate vernation. 

 Peduncles, when young, circinate. 



Affinities. Nearly allied to Violaceae, from which their circinate ver- 

 nation, several styles, minute embryo, and exstipulate leaves, distinguish 

 them. They are also no doubt related to Saxifragese, to which order it 

 is possible that one of the genera referred to Droseracese by Decandolle 

 (Romanzovia), actually belongs. The most material circumstance that sepa- 

 rates them from Saxifrageae is their hypogynous, not perigynous stamens. 

 But when we consider how difficult it frequently is, to determine whether 

 the point of origin of the stamens in Saxifrageae is from the calyx or from 

 below the ovarium, this distinction will cease to have much value. Besides 

 the line of origin of the stamens, these two orders are also distinguished by 

 their vernation and placentation ; but in the latter respect Parnassia among 

 Saxifrageae accords with Droseracese ; and in the former Dionaea among Dro- 

 seraceae accords with Saxifrageae. It is not, however, quite certain that 

 this last-mentioned genus is actually referable to Droseracese, from which 

 it differs remarkably in the structure of its ovarium, in its style, and in its 

 foliage. I am persuaded that Droseracese are fully as nearly related to 

 Saxifrageae as to Violaceae ; and this fact shews how much the artificial 

 distribution of orders is at variance with natural affinities. Droseraceae are 

 also allied to Sarracennieae : see that order. 



Geography. At the Cape of Good Hope, in South America, North 

 America, New Holland, China, Europe, Madagascar, the East Indies, 

 wherever there are marshes or morasses, these plants are found. Droso- 

 phyllum lusitanicum is remarkable for growing on the barren sands of 

 Portugal. 



Properties. The leaves of Dionaea muscipula are irritable, and col- 

 lapse when touched. The common Droseras are rather acid, slightly acrid, 

 and, according to some, poisonous to cattle. The Drosera communis of 

 Brazil is said by M. A. St. Hilaire to be poisonous to sheep. PI. Usuelles, 

 no. 15. 



Examples. Drosera, Drosophyllum. 



CXXXVIII. NEPENTHES. The Pitcher-Plant Tribe. 



Aristolocui^k, § Nepenthinae, Link Ilaiidb. 1. 3GJ). (1829). 



Diagnosis. Apetalous dicotyledons, with a 4-cclled ovarium, inde- 

 finite ovula, a regular imbricated calyx, and pitcher-shaped leaves. 

 Anomalies. The direction of tlie radicle uncertain. 



Essential Ciiaracteu — Floivers dioecious. Calyx 4-leaved, inferior, ojipositely 

 imbricated in ajstivation. Stamens cohering in a solid column, bearing at the ajiex al)()ut 

 10' anthers, collected in various directions in one head; anthers 2-celled, o])ening longitu- 

 dinally and externally. Ovarium superior, 4-cornered, 4-celled, with an iiuietiniie number 

 of ascending ovules attached to the sides of tlie (liss('j)iments ; stiyma sessile, simple. Fruit 

 capsular, 4-celled, 4-valved, with the seeds sticking to the sides of the dissei)imerits, which 

 proceed fntm the middle of the valves. SeriLi indefinite, very minute, fusiform, with a lax 

 outer integument; albumen oblong, much less than the se<'d, lying about the middle of 

 the outer integument ; embryo in the midst of fleshy albumen, with 2 cotyledons placed 

 face to face ; (radicle turned towards tlie liilum, Ad. lironyn. Ners, and Escnbeck ; turned to 



the extremity opposite the hilum, Kirhord) llcrbuccoiis or half-shruliby caulescent plants. 



Leaves alternate, slightly sheathing at the base, with a dilated foliaceous petiole, pitcher- 

 shaped at the end, which is articulated with a lid-like lamina. Racemes terminal, dense, 

 many-flowered. 



