436 



FUMARIACE.E. 



[Hypogynous Exogens. 



diadelphous stamens, which bear indifferently 1- and 2-celled anthers." I am, however, 

 inclined to suspect that the floral envelopes of Fumeworts are not rightly described, 

 I am by no means sure that it would not be more consonant to analogy to consider the 

 parts of their flower divided upon a binary plan ; thus understanding the outer series 

 of the supposed petals as calyx, and the uaner only as petals ; while the parts now 

 called sepals are perhaps more analogous to bracts ; an idea which their arrangement, 

 and the constant tendency of the outer series to become saccate at the base, which is 

 not uncommon in the calyx of Cmcifers, but never happens, as far as I know, in their 

 petals, would seem to confirm. Of this, some further e\'idence may be found in the 

 stamens. Those organs are combined in two parcels, one of which is opposite each of 

 the divisions of the outer series, and consists of one perfect 2-celled anther in the mid- 

 dle and two lateral 1 -celled ones : now, supposing the lateral 1 -celled anthers of each 

 parcel to belong to a common stamen, the filament of wliich is split by the separa- 

 tion of the two parcels, we shall find the number of stamens of Fmneworts to be 4, one 

 of which is before each of the divisions of the flower ; an arrangement that is precisely 

 what we should expect in a normal flower consisting of 2 sepals and 2 petals, and the 

 reverse of what ought to occm' if the divisions of the flower were really all petals, as has 

 been hitherto believed. M. Gay, however, objects to this view, and considers the sta- 

 mens of a Fumitory to be essentially of the same natm'e as those of a Cnicifer, and 

 therefore truly 6 (Ann. Sc. Nat., ser. 2. 18. 216.), an opinion in wliich I am quite imable 

 to concur, for reasons that need not be here explained. It is sufficient to say that 

 Hj-pecoum negatives M. Gay's theory. 



The economy of the sexual organs of Fumitories 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 communi- 

 cating their pollen to the stigma ; the four lateral ones are also naturally turned out- 

 wards, 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 tips of the flower, which, never unclosing, 

 offer no apparent means of the pollen being disturbed, so as to be shed upon the stigma- 

 tic 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 parcel, 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. At fii'st sight Fumeworts are entirely 

 unUke Poppies, and common observers would scarcely suspect their close relationship. 

 But the seeds, and very often the fruit, of these plants are so much the same, and the 

 genus Hypecoum is so exactly intermediate between the two, that there is not much to 

 object to those who look upon Fumeworts as an uTegular form of Poppy worts with 

 definite stamens. The latter circumstance, by itself, perhaps, would not be very impor- 

 tant, but taken with the former it sanctions the propriety of regarding them as 

 independent Natm'al Orders. 



Fumeworts offer every gradation, from raonospermous to polyspermous fruit, and 

 between indehiscence, as in Fumaria itself, and dehiscence, as in Corydahs. 



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. 



The usual character of Fumeworts is, to be scentless, a little bitter, in no degree 

 milky, and to act as diaphoretics and aperients. The tuber of Corydalis tuberosa has 

 been foimd to contain a peculiar alkali called Corydalin. C. bulbosa has a tuber which 

 is somewhat aromatic, extremely bitter, sUghtly astringent and acrid, and was formerly 

 used as a substitute for Bh'thworts in expelling intestinal worms, and as an emmena- 

 gogue. Dicentra Cucullaria has been employed in North America in the same way ; 

 and Corydalis Capnoides seems to possess similar properties. 



GENERA. 



I. Hypecoe.e.— Stamens 

 distinct. 



Hypecoum, Tournef. 

 Mnemosilla, Forslc. 

 Chiazospermum, Bernh. 

 Pteridophyllum, Sieb. 



II. FuMARiE/E. — Sta- 

 mens diadelphous. 



Dactylicapnos, Wall. 



Dicentra, Borkh. 



Diclytra, DC, 



Eucapnos, Bernh. 



Capnorchis, Borkh. 



Cucullaria, Raf. 



Bicucullata, March. 



Macrocapnos , Royle. 

 Adlumia, Raf. 



Bicitculla, Borkh. 



Phacocapnos, Bernh. 

 Corydalis, DC. 



Capnogorium, Bernh. 



Capnoides, Boerh. 



Neckeria, Scop. 



Borkhatisenia,Fl.Wet. 

 Capnites, Endl. 

 Bulbocapnos, Bernh. 



Leonticoides, DC. 

 Discocapnos,CAam.c</ScA 

 Sarcocapnos, T>C. 

 Cysticapnos, Boerh. 



Capnocystis, Juss. 

 Fumaria, Tournef. 



Sphcerocapnos, DC. 

 Platycapnos, DC. 



Numbers. Gen. 15. Sp. 110. 

 Papaveracece. 

 Position. — Droseraceae. — Fumariace^. — Berberidacere, 

 Brassicacece. 



