446 ERICALES. [Hypogynous Exogens. 



Alliance XXXIV. ERICALES.— ^b.^ Erical Alliance. 



Diagnosis. — Hypogynous Exogens, with dichlamydeous flowers, symmetrical in the ovary, 

 axile placeiitce, deflnite stamens, and enibryo inclosed in a large quantity of fleshy 

 albumen. 



The striking resemblance in interior structure between the seeds of Wmtergreens, 

 Fu'-rapes, Francoads, and Sundews is such as to render it improbable that they should 

 not be placed by nature ui very close affinity ; and it is only the want of correspond, 

 ence in the number of the floral organs of the latter which has led to its being detained 

 on the borders of the neighbom'ing Berberal Alliance. 



Ericals join Berberals by way of Humiriads, wliich are very Hke Olacads, and they 

 evidently pass into Rutals through the assistance of CoiTea among Rueworts ; nor is 

 this a feeble indication of consanguinity. 



Among more distant affinities, one with Dilleniads is very remarkably established by 

 means of the curious genus Sam*auja in that Order. 



Natural Orders of Ericals. 



Flowers polypetalous. Stamens all perfect, monadelphous. Anthers \ ■, f. . „• 



^-celled, loith a long membranous connective J- 104. HuMiRiACEyE. 



Floioers monopetalous. Stamens all perfect, free. Seeds with a\,r.. -^ 

 firmslin. Anthers \-celled, opening longitudinally . . . . | a*^^- -^^pacridace^ 



Flowers half-raonopetalous. Stamens all perfect, free. Seeds loith \-yno -n 



a loose sJcin. Embryo at the base of the albumen J ' -f yrolace^. 



Flowers polypetalous. Stamens half-sterile and scale-like, free. ^ ■, ^.^ -r^ 



Seeds with a firm skin. .}16/. Francoace^. 



Floioers half -monopetalous. Stamens all perfect, free. Seeds\,f,^ ^ 



with a loose skin or wing. Embryo at the apex of the albumen J * J-^^onotropace^. 



Flowers monopetalous. Stamens all pofect, free. Seeds tvith a\,f.n -p 

 firm or loose shin. Anthers 2-ceUed, opening by pores . . . J ^^' * J^^.^cace^. 



