THE PINK FAMILY, loi 



pointed instrument, that the stamens spring up against 

 the upper petals. A similar spring-like action occurs 

 in some members of the pea family {Leguminosce) , as 

 in the much-cultivated lucerne. The spoon-like ex- 

 tremity of the style of Polyg'ala is reduced to a point 

 in Mural' tia. The anthers all cluster round the stigma, 

 and are one-celled in consequence of a fusion of the 

 original two. Like Mund'tia, this is probably self- 

 fertilizing. 



General Description of the Mikwort Family, 



Herhs or shrubs. 



Flowers — Irregular ; sepals, 5 unequal, 2 lateral, 

 petaloid ; ^ petals, 5, adherent to the filaments, the lower 

 (keel) enclosing the stamens and pistil; stamens, 8, 

 filaments, monadelphous,^ anthers, with pores. 



Fruit — Capsule or drupe (i.e. with a stone). 



Caryophylleae. 



The Pixk Family. 



This order contains 1200 species of 35 genera in 3 

 tribes. It consists entirely of herbs, many being little 

 weeds. They all have opposite leaves arising from 

 somewhat enlarged nodes, or the joints of the stem. It 



1 I.e. " like petals." 



* I.e. " one brotherhood," the filaments being coherent. 



