199 



by the rigid spiny scgmentsof the calyx. Seed solitary, pendulous, sessile ; embryo in the axis 

 of fleshy albumen ; radicle superior. — Herbaceous plants. Leaves alternate, without stipulte. 

 Mowers collected in heads, which are either terminal or opposite the leaves, surrounded by an 

 involucrum. Florets sessile, monoclinous, or neuter. 



Affinities. A very small and curious tribe, differing from Composite in 

 nothing but their albumen, pendulous ovulum, and half distinct anthers, and 

 from Dipsaceae in their filaments being monadelphous and their anthers partly- 

 connate. They may therefore be considered to hold a middle station between 

 these two families. Richard's monograph, in the work above quoted, is worthy 

 of the high reputation of that distinguished botanist. 



Geography. All natives of South America. 



Properties. Unknown. 



Examples. Acicarpha, Boopis, Calycera. 



CLXXXVIII. GLOBULARINEiE. 



tiLOBULABiNEfi, Dec. Fl. Fr. 3. 427. (1815) ; Cambessedes in Ann. des Sciences, 9. 15. (1826) ; 

 Link Handb. 1. 675. (1829.) 



Diagnosis. Monopetalous dicotyledons, with irregular capitate flowers, 

 and a superior 1 -celled indehiscent fruit. 

 Anomalies. 



Essential Character. — Calyx persistent, 5-cleft, usually equal, sometimes 2-lipped. Co- 

 rolla hypogynous, tubular, bilabiate, rarely 1-lipped, made up of 5 petals. Stamens 4, the up- 

 permost being wanting, arising from the top of the tube of the corolla, somewhat didynamous ; 

 anthers reniform, bursting longitudinally, the 2 cells confluent into 1. Ovarium superior, 

 1-celled, with a single pendulous ovulum. ; style filiform, emarginate at the apex. Fruit small, 

 indehiscent, pointed with the persistent style. Albumen fleshy ; embryo straight, in its axis; 

 radicle superior, about as long as the ovate cotyledons. — Shrubs, or small low under-shrubs, 

 or perennial herbs. Leaves alternate, often fascicled, turning black in drying. Flowers col- 

 lected in small heads, upon a convex paleaceous receptacle. 



Affinities. These were placed near Primulacese both by Jussieu and De- 

 candolle ; but their closest affinity is now known to be with Dipsaceae, with 

 which Globularinese agree in a multitude of particulars, especially in habit, but 

 differ in having a superior ovarium, and in so little besides, that it may be 

 doubted whether, considering the peculiar nature of the cohesion of the calyx 

 and ovarium of Dipsaceae, they and Globularineee are not the same family. 

 They were united by Lamarck in the same order as Proteaceae. 



Geography. Natives of the hot and temperate parts of Europe ; Dantzic 

 is their most northern station. 



Properties. Bitter, tonic, and purgative herbaceous plants. 



Example. Globularia. 



