13 



linear turned inwards, continuous with the filament. Ovaria 2 or more, terminated by a 

 short style. Fruit indehiscent, tipped by the indurated style. Seeds definite, pendulous ; em- 

 bryo fungilliform, seated at the base of firm, somewhat fleshy albumen. — Aquatic plants, with 

 floating leaves. Flowers axillary, solitary, yellow or purple. 



Affinities. Their nearest relation is to Nymphamceae, from which they 

 are known by their definite seeds and distinct carpella. From Podophylleae, 

 to which they are united by Decandolle, they differ in their floating habit, de- 

 finite seeds, and numerous ovaries. In the affinities of both these orders they 

 otherwise partake. According to Richard, Cabomba in a monocotyledon : Hy- 

 dropeltis is clearly related closely to Caltha. 



Geography. American water-plants, found from Cayenne to New Jersey. 

 The whole order consists of but two species. 



Properties. Unknown. 



Examples. Hydropeltis, Cabomba. 



VIII. PODOPHYLLEAE 



Popophvllace* § Podophyllese Dec. Syst. 2. 32. (1821); Prodr. 1. 111. (1824); Von Mar- 

 tius H. Reg. Monac .(1829) ; a sect, of Papaveracece. 



Diagnosis. Polypetaloug dicotyledons, with hypogynous stamens, anthers 

 bursting by longitudinal slits, a solitary simple carpellum, extipulate leaves, 

 solid albumen, and seeds without arillus. 



Anomalies. None. [In Jeffersonia, according to Dr. Hooker, the cells 

 of the anthers are valvular.] 



Essential Character. — Sepals 3 or 4, deciduous or persistent. Petals in two or three rows 

 each of which is equal in number to the sepals. Stamens hypogynous, 12-18, arranged in 

 two, three, or more rows ; filaments filiform ; anthers linear or oval, terminal, turned inwards, 

 bursting by a double longitudinal line. Torus not enlarged. Ovarium solitary ; stigma 

 thick, nearly sessile, somewhat peltate. Fruit succulent or capsular, 1-celled. Seeds inde- 

 finite, attached to a lateral placenta, sometimes having an arillus ; embryo small, at the basa 

 of fleshy albumen.— Herbaceous plants. Leaves broad, lobed. Flowers radical, solitary, 

 white. 



Affinities. Very nearly allied to the herbaceous genera of Berberidea?, 

 from which they scarcely differ, except in the dehiscence of their anthers. 

 From Papaveracece, to which they have been recently referred by Von Mar- 

 tius, they are known by their watery, not milky, juice, by their solitary unilate- 

 ral placentae, and by their fleshy, not oily, albumen. From Ranunculacea; 

 they are divided, among other characters, by their anthers bursting inwardly ; 

 in which, however, they agree with Decandolle's spurious genera, which that 

 author suspects might be better even referred to Podophyllese. Hj^dropelti- 

 deae, which are joined to them by that learned botanist, are here considered a 

 distinct order. 



Geography. All inhabitants of the marshes of North America. 



Properties. The root of the May Apple, Podophyllum peltatum, is one 

 of the most safe and active cathartics that is known, Barton, 2, 14. Jeffer- 

 sonia is also purgative. Dec and. 



Examples. Podophyllum, Jeffersonia. 



