432 BERBERALES. [Hypogynous Exogens. 



Alliance XXXIII. BEEBEBALES.—The Berberal Alliance. 



Diagnosis. — HypogTjnous Exogens, with monodichlamydcoics floivers, unsymmetncal in the 

 ovary, sutured, parietal, or axile placentce, definite stamens, and embryo inclosed in a 

 quantity of fleshy albumen. 



The combination in the same Alliance of Epimedium and Vines, or of Fumitories and 

 Berberries, may at first appear paradoxical. But the sequence of affinities shows that 

 this association is truly natural. The Berberal Alliance is connected with the Ranal 

 by means of Fumeworts, which are so nearly related to Poppyworts, that some 

 Botanists refuse to separate them as independent Orders. The affinity of Fumitories 

 and Epimedium with the plants generally associated with Fumeworts under the name 

 of Nandinege is obvious ; to the latter all Botanists ally the true Berberids. The pas- 

 sage from Berberids proper to Vines is by no means difficult to perceive, and thence 

 Vines may be regarded as passuig into Pittosporads by means of the chmbing fleshy- 

 fruited Billardieras m the latter Order. 



The characteristic marks of the Berberal Alliance are its unequal-parted flowers, 

 definite number of stamens, and mmute embryo, lying inclosed in hard horny albumen. 

 The only exception to this distinction is found in Berberis itself, whose embryo is 

 much larger than in the remainder of the Alliance, but in that genus the long radicle 

 and small cotyledons proclaim its relationship to be with the Orders characterised by the 

 large quantity of their albumen. From the Erical Alliance they diff'er in little except 

 the number of parts in the flower being unequal ; that is to say, although the stamens, 

 corolla, and calyx, may correspond in the number of their parts, yet the ovary is at 

 variance with them in that respect. For this reason the Sundews are stationed here, 

 although theu" habit is rather that of the Erical Alliance, to which they may be regarded 

 as a transition. The parietal placentse of Sundews are also in conformity with that por- 

 tion of the Berberals which constitute the Fumeworts. 



The true passage from Ranals is at once mto Fumeworts ; but Sundews being as much 

 a modification of the structm'e of Poppyworts as Fumeworts themselves, the two Orders 

 stand on the same level, and in a lineal arrangement must necessarily interfex'e, by the 

 one taking a precedence to which it is not entitled. 



Natural Orders of Berberals. 



Flowers regular and symmetrical. Placentce par ietcd. Stamens^■^^^ Droserace^ 



alternate with the petals, or twice as many j ' 



Floioers irregidar and un^ymmetrical. Placentce parietal. Stamens 1 j ^ g Fum ari ace^ 



opposite the petals J 



Floioers regular, symmetrical. Placentce sutural. Stamens opposite \ ■, >q -d^^^^^^^ . ^^ ^ 



the petals. Anthers with recurved valves J 



Flowers regular, symmetrical. Placentce axile. Stamens oppo-\-,nQ Vitace^ 



site the petals. Anthers opening longitudinally J 



Floioers regular, symmetrical. Placentce axile and parietal. Sta-' 



mens alternate toith the petals. Ovules ascending or horizontal. [.161. Pittosporace^e. 

 Corolla imbricated 



Flowers regular, symmetrical. Placentce axile. Stamens alternate 1 i /-o q acxcfjp 

 with tJie petals. Ovules pendulous. Corolla valvate . . . .j "' 



Floioers regular, symmetrical. Placentce axile. Stamens alter-') 



note with the petals if equal to them in number. Ovides pendu- >■ 163. Cyrillace^. 

 lous. Corolla imbricated J 



