188 



CLXXVI. GOODENOVI^. 



CampanuLjH, Juss. Gen. 163. (1789) in part — GooDENOVi.t, B. Brown Prodr. 57S. 



(1810). 

 • 



Diagnosis. Monopetalous dicotyledons, with a '2-4-celled inferior ova- 

 rium, an indusiate stigma, and indefinite seeds. 



Anomalies. Tliis order offers the singular anomaly of genera having, 

 at the same time, an inferior calyx and a superior corolla; a circumstance 

 which, it has been well observed by Mr. Brown, points out the real origin of 

 both organs, 



EssEVTiAL Character Calyx usually superior, rarely inferior, equal or unequal, 



in from 3 to o divisions. Corolla always more or less superior, monopetalous, more or less 

 irregular, withering; its tube split at the back, and sometimes capable of lieing separated 

 into 5 pieces, when the calyx only coheres with the base of the ovarium ; its limb 5-parted, 

 with 1 or 2 lips, the edges of the segments being thinner than the middle, and folded 

 inwards in aestivation. Stamens 5, distinct, alternate with the segments of the corolla ; 

 anthers distinct or cohering, 2-celled, bursting longitudinally. Pollen simple or compound. 

 Ovarium 2-celled, rarely 4-celled, with indefinite ovules, having sometimes a gland at its 

 base between the 2 anterior filaments; sti/le 1, simple, very rarely divided ; stigma fleshy, 

 undivided, or 2-lobed, surrounded by a membranous cup. Fruit a 2- or 4-celled capsule 

 with many seeds, attached to the axis of the dissepiment, which is usually parallel with 

 the valves, rarely opposite to them. Seeils usually with a thickened testa, which is some- 

 times nut-like; albumen fleshy, enclosing an erect embryo; cotyledons foliaceous ; plumula 



inconspicuous Herbaceous plants, rarely shrubs, without milk, with simple or glandular 



hairs, 'if any are present. Leaves scattered, often lobed, without stipulse. Inflorescence 

 terminal, variable. Flowers distinct, never capitate, usually yellow, or blue, or pink. 



Affinities. The strict relation of these to Campanulacese and Lobe- 

 liaceae cannot be doubted, from which they differ in the aestivation of the 

 flower, and in the peculiar indusium of the stigma, a trace of which is to be 

 found in Lobeliacege, and which exists in a remarkable degree in Bruno- 

 niacegp. Scsevolese differ only in their definite seeds. Upon the nature 

 of the indusium of the stigma Mr. Brown makes the following observations. 



" Is this remarkable covering of the stigma in these families merely a 

 process of the apex of-the style? or is it a part of distinct origin, though 

 intimately cohering with the pistillum? On the latter supposition, may it 

 not be considered as analogous to the glandular disk surrounding or crown- 

 ing the ovarium in many other families? And, in adopting the hypothesis 

 I have formerly advanced respecting the nature of this disk in certain fami- 

 lies, — namely, that it is composed of a series of modified stamina, — has not 

 the part in question .a considerable resemblance, in apparent origin and 

 division, to the stamina of the nearly-related family Stylidese? To render 

 this supposition somewhat less paradoxical, let the comparison be made 

 especially between the indusium of Brunonia and the imperfect antherue 

 in the female flowers of Forstera. Lastly, connected with this view, it 

 becomes of iniportance to ascertain whether the stamina in Stylideoe are 

 0[)posite to the segments of calyx or of corolla. The latter disposition would 

 be in favour of the hypothesis. This, however, is a point which will not 

 be very easily determined, the stamina being lateral. In th6 mean time, 

 the existence and division of the corona faucis in Stylidium render it not 

 altogether improbable that they are opposite to the segments of the corolla." 

 R. Brown in Linn. Trans. 12. 1.34. 1 am rather inclined to consider the 

 indusium analogous to the collecting hairs of Campanulacea'. In these 

 they occupy the surface of the greater pa:rt of the style; in Lobelia they are 

 arranged in a whorl, forming a cuj)-like fringe; and in Goodenovia" the 

 hairs, being still whorled, are consolidated into a unilbrm substance by their 

 mutual cohesion. 



