139 

 CXXV. HYDROCEREiE 



Hydrocere«, Blumc Bijdr. 241. (1825.) 



Diagnosis. Polypetalous dicotyledons, with definite hypogynous stamens, 

 concrete carpella, an entire ovarium of several sepals with placentae in the axis, 

 an imbricated calyx, one of the sepals of which is spurred, symmetrical flowers, 

 definite pendulous ovules, and a drupaceous fruit. 



Anomalies. 



Essential Character. — Sepals 5, deciduous, coloured, unequal; the lowermost elongate t 

 into a spur. Petals 5, hypogynous, unequal ; the upper arched. Stamens 5, hypogynous, 

 connate at the apex ; anthers slightly connate, 2-cellcd, bursting at the apex. Ovarium, 

 5-celled, 5-angled, with 2 or 3 ovula in each cell ; stigmas 5, sessile, acute. Fruit succulent 

 with 5 cells, each of which has a bony hard lining, and contains a single seed. Seeds solitary, 

 without albumen ; cotyledons plano-convex ; radicle superior. — Herbaceous. Stems angular. 

 Leaves alternate, without stipula;, serrated. Peduncles axillary, many-flowered. 



Affinities. Closely related to Balsamineae and Tropreoley, from which 

 they are only distinguished by their symmetrical flowers and drupaceous fruit. 

 Geography. A single species, native of marshes and wet places in Java. 

 Properties. Unknown. 

 Example. Hydrocera. 



CXXVI. BALSAMINEiE. The Balsam Tribe. 



Balsamin-eje. Art,. Rich. Diet. Class. 2. 173. (1822) ; Dec. Prodr. 1. 685. (1824) ; Lindl. Synops. 



59. (1829.) 



Diagnosis. Polypetalous dicotyledons, with definite hypogynous stamens, 

 concrete carpella, an ovarium of 5 cells with the placentae in the axis, an im- 

 bricated calyx, unsymmetrical flowers with one of the sepals spurred, and 

 indefinite ovules. 



Anomalies. 



Essential Character. — SepalsS, irregular, deciduous, the two inner and upper of which 

 are connate, the lower spurred. Petals 4, hypogynous, united in pairs, so that apparently there 

 are only 2 petals; the fifth wanting. Stamens 5, hypogynous ; f laments subulate; anthers 

 2-celled, bursting lengthwise. Ovarium single ; stigma sessile, more or less divided in 5 ; cells 

 5, many-seeded.^ Fruit capsular, with 5 elastic valves, and 5 cells formed by membranous 

 projections of the placenta, which occupies the axis of the fruit, and is connected with the apex 

 by 5 slender threads. Seeds numerous, suspended ; albumen none; embryo straight, with a 

 superior radicle and plano-convex cotyledons.— Succulent herbaceous plants. Leaves simple, 

 opposite or alternate, without stipuhe. Peduncles axillary. 



Affinities. So nearly related to Geraniacefe, of which it is, in the opinion 

 of many, a mere section, that it is only distinguishable by the spurred calyx, 

 polyspermous fruit, and unsymmetrical flowers. Tropaeolese differ in their fruit, 

 OxalideEe in their compound leaves and symmetrical flowers. M. Kunth, in a 

 memoir printed in 1827, was the first to point out the true structure of this 

 family, which had been more or less misunderstood by all previous observers. 

 I had overlooked this memoir at the time of the publication of my Synopsis of 

 ihe British Flora, whence the old erroneous character is given in that work. 

 The following is the substance of M. Kunth's remarks : Linnaeus attributed to 

 the Impatiens Balsamina a calyx of 2 leaves, 5 unequal petals, a nectary, a 



