19 



Fumariaceae is 4, one of which is before each of the divisions of the flower ; 

 an arrangement which is precisely what we should expect to find in a nor- 

 mal flower consisting of 2 sepals and 2 petals, and the reverse of what 

 ought to occur if the divisions of the flower were really all petals, as has been 

 hitherto believed. 



The economy of the fructification of Fumariaceae is remarkable. The 

 stamens are in two parcels, the anthers of which are a little higher than the 

 stigma ; the two middle ones of these anthers are turned outwards, and do not 

 appear to be capable of communicating their pollen to the stigma ; the four 

 lateral ones are also naturally turned outwards, but by a twist of their filament 

 their face is presented to the stigma. They are all held firmly together by the 

 cohesion of the tops of the flower, which, never unclosing, offer no apparent 

 means of the pollen being disturbed so as to be shed upon the stigmatic surface. 

 To remedy this inconvenience, the stigma is furnished with two blunt horns, 

 one of which is inserted between and under the cells of the anthers of each par- 

 cel, so that without any alteration of position on the part of either organ, the 

 mere contraction of the valves of the anthers is sufficient to shed the pollen 

 upon that spot where it is required to perform the office of fecundation. 



This order offers every gradation, from monospermous to polyspermous fruit, 

 and between indehiscence, as in fumaria itself, and dehiscence, as in Corydalis. 



Geography. Their principal range is in the temperate latitudes of the 

 northern hemisphere, where they inhabit thickets and waste places. Two are 

 found at the Cape of Good Hope. 



Properties. The character of Fumariacere is, to be scentless, a little 

 bitter, in no degree milky, and to act as diaphoretics and aperients. Dec. 

 The root, of Fumaria cava and Corydalis tuberosa has been found to contain a 

 peculiar alkali called Corydalin. Turner, 653. 



Examples. Fumaria, Diclytra, Corydalis. 



XI. CAPPAPJDE^E. The Caper Tribe. 



Capparide*, Jilss. Gen. 242. (1789) ; Ann. Mus. 18. 474. (1811) ; Dec. Proclr. 1. 237. (1824). 



Diagnosis. Polypetalous dicotyledons, with hypogynous stamens, con- 

 crete carpella, a 1-celled pedicellate, ovarium, narrow simple parietal placenta*, 

 a continuous enlarged disk, reniform seeds. 



Anomalies. Some species of Niebuhria, Mserua, Boscia, Cadaba, and 

 Thylacium, have no petals. The stamens are occasionally tetradynamous, 

 according to Decandolle. 



Essential Character. — Sepals 4, either nearly distinct, equal, or unequal, or cohering- in 

 a tube, the limb of which is variable in form. Petals 4, cruciate, usually unguiculate and 

 unequal. Stametis almost perigynous, very seldom tetradynamous, most frequently arranged 

 in some high multiple of a quaternary number, definite or indefinite. Disk hemispherical, or 

 elongated, often bearing glands. Ovarium stalked; style none, or filiform. Fruit either 

 podshaped and dehiscent, or baccate, 1-celled, very rarely 1-seeded, most frequently with 2 

 polyspermous placenta;. Seeds generally reniform, without albumen, but with the lining of 

 the testa tumid, attached to the margin of the valves ; embryo incurved ; cotyledons fohaceous, 

 Qattiah.— Herbaceous plants, shrubs, or even trees, without true stipula;, hut sometimes with 

 spines in their place. Leaves alternate, stalked, undivided, or palmate. Flowers in no parti- 

 cular arrangement. 



Affinites. Distinguished from Cruciferae by their stamens being often in- 

 definite, if definite never tetradynamous, or scarcely ever, and by their reniform 

 seeds. They are related to Passiflorere in their stipitate ovarium, and fleshy 

 indehiscent fruit with parietal polyspermous placentae ; to Flacourtiaceae in the 



