416 



RANALES. 



[Hypogynous Exogens. 



Alliance XXXII. BANALES. — The Ranal Alliance. 



Diagnosis. — Hypogynous Exogetis, with monodicldamydeous fioioers, sutural or axile 

 placentcB, 00 stamens, and a minute embryo inclosed in a large quantity of fleshy or 

 horny albumen. 

 Under this name are collected some of the most common, and at the same tune the 

 most highly developed species of the Vegetable Kingdom. In general they are charac- 

 tei-ised by the presence of a distinct calyx and corolla ; but it is by no means uncommon 

 to find these organs so blended together as to be undistmguishable, Avhile in other 

 instances the coroUa is ^vholly wanting, and it even occm'S occasionally that neither 

 one nor the other is present. In appearance Ranals are singularly different even in the 

 same Order ; a?, for example, in the Crowfoots, mider which arrange themselves the 

 common Crowfoot, the Aconite, Thalictmm, and Xanthorrhsea. But although there is 

 so much diversity of appearance among them, nevertheless they certainly form a well 

 compacted group, no one member of wliich can be spared, as will be seen by examining 

 the remarks made under each Order. In general they have an mdefinite number of 

 stamens, but the genus Bocagea presents a very remarkable exception to that rule. 

 They pass into the Berberal AlHance by the Poppyworts, some of which resemble 

 Sarraceniads, and others the common forms of the Crowfoot Order. A clear case of 

 transition to the Erical Alliance also seems to be established by the genus Sam'auja, 

 which to the disimited styles of Ranals and their indefinite stamens, adds the mmute 

 indefinite seeds, porous anthers, and monopetalous corolla of Heathworts themselves ; 

 that genus may be regarded as a Cletlu'a, with the indefinite stamens of Tetracera, 

 or as a Tetracera with the monopetalous corolla, mmute seeds, and porous anthers of a 

 Clethra. To Umbellifers in the Epigynous series they pass by way of theu" genus Thalic- 

 tmm, whose whole habit is that of the former Order, and whose fruit would, if it adhered 

 to the calyx, be nearly that of an Umbellifer. 



Natural Orders of Ranals. 



Carpels distinct. Stipules large, convohife. Corolla imbricated. 1 i ti MAGNOLiACEyE 



Albumen homogeneous J 



Carpels distinct. Stipules 0. Corolla valvate. Albumen ruminate. 152. Anonace^. 

 Carpels distinct. Stipules 0. Corolla imbncated. Albumen \ , ^.r, j^ 



homogeneous. Seeds arillate /^^'^- ^illeniace^. 



Carpels distinct. Stipules 0. Corolla imbricated. Albumen \ ■, f. . -p 



homogeneous. Seeds without an aril J^^*' -I^anunculace^. 



Carpels consolidated. Calyx permanent. {Placentce axile) . . 155, Sarracenniace^. 



Carpels consolidated. Calyx deciduous. {Placentce ^tf^ucdly \ -, ,.(. jy 



parietal) |i5b. Iapaverace^. 



