165 



the calyx. Styles 3, distinct, or slightly cohering at the base. — Leaves 

 alternate. 



Examples. Telephjum, Corrigiola. 



2. iLLECEBREiE VERiE. 



Calyx 5-parted. Petals 5, or none. Stamens from 2 to 5, arising from 

 the calyx. Styles distinct, or partially cohering. Capsule indehiscent, 1- 

 seeded ; an umbilical cord arising from the bottom, and bearing a some- 

 what pendulous seed upon the apex, — Herbs, rarely under-shrubs. Leaves 

 acute, opposite. 



Examples. Illecebrum, Herniaria, Gymnocarpum. 



3. PoLYCARPiEiE. 



Calyx 5-parted. Petals 5, or none. Stamens from 1 to 5, arising from 

 the bottom of the calyx. Styles 2 or 3, either distinct down to the base, or 

 combined. Capsule 1 -celled, many-seeded. Seeds attached to a central 

 placenta, — Herbs or under-shrubs. Leaves opposite. 



Examples. Polycarpaea, Stipulicida. 



4, POLLICHIE^. 



Calyx 5-toothed, with an urceolate tube. Stamens 1 or 2, arising from 

 the throat. Petals none. Stigma bifid, Utriculus valveless, 1-seeded. 

 Bractese (and perhaps also the calyx) enlarged after flowering, fleshy, and 

 resembling a berry. — A sufFruticose herb. Leaves opposite, somewhat 

 whorled. 



Example, PoUichia, 



Geography, The south of Europe and the north of Africa are the 

 great stations of the order, where the species grow in the most barren places, 

 covering with a thick vegetation soil which is incapable of bearing any thing 

 else, A few are found at the Cape of Good Hope ; and North America, 

 including Mexico, comprehends several. 



Properties. A trace of astringency pervades the order, and is the 

 only sensible property that it is known to possess. 



CLI. AMARANTACE^. The Amaranth Tribe. 



Amaranthi, Jvss. Gen. 87- (1789) Amaranthace^, R. Brown Prodr. 413. (1810) ; 



Von Martins Monogr. (1826) ; Lindley^s Synopsis, 213. (1829). 



Diagnosis. Apetalous dicotyledons, with erect seeds, an embryo curved 

 round mealy albumen, radicle next the hilum, hypogynous stamens, and 

 scarious bracteolate calyxes. 



Anomalies, Stamens sometimes perigynous. 



Essential Character Calya; 3- or 5-leaved, hypogynous, scarious, persistent, 



occasionally with 2 bracteolae at the base. Stamens hypogynous, either 5, or some multiple 

 of that number, either distinct or monadelphous, occasionally partly abortive ; anthers either 

 2-celled or 1 -celled. Ovarium single, superior, 1- or few-seeded ; the ovules hanging from 

 a free central funiculus; style 1 or none; stigma simple or compound. Fruit a membra- 

 nous utricle. iVeerfs lentiform, pendulous ; teste crustaceous ; fl/iM;neri central, farinaceous; 

 embryo curved round the circumference ; radicle next the hilum ; pliimula inconspicuous — 

 Herbs or shrubs. Leaves simple, opposite or alternate, without stipule. Flowers in heads 

 or spikes, usually coloured, occasionally unisexual, generally hermaphrodite. Fubescence 

 simple, the hairs divided by internal partitions. 



Affinities. Different as this order appears to be from Chenopodese 

 in habit, especially if we compare such a genus as Gomphrena with Cbeno- 



