i6o SOUTH AFRICAN FLOWERING PLANTS. 



is a family mainly characteristic of tropical countries 

 of both hemispheres ; but one section of herbs, called 

 Stellatce, because the opposite leaves with intermediate 

 leaf-like stipules make a whorl or " star-like " arrange- 

 ment, is extra-tropical, and is represented in South 

 Africa by two genera. 



It is the first order to be considered which has the 

 petals coherent into one piece. Hence the corolla is 

 called Gamopctalous, giving the name to the Division, 



Garde'nia. — Of the trees and shrubs which abound 

 in this order this plant is a great favourite under 

 cultivation, when it is often " double." The flower 

 will be at once seen to have an inferior ovary. The 

 corolla is trumpet- or funnel-shaped, with five or more 

 petal-lobes. Stamens, as many as the petals, epipe- 

 talous, the rule with gamopetalous corollas. Heath, 

 Camixcwulacecv and Plitmba'go affording exceptions. 



The pistil is composed of two carpels, but the 

 ovary is one-celled, as the two placentas do not meet 

 in the middle, but remain parietal. 



The fruit is a somewhat fleshy, inferior drupe, as 

 it has a hard internal shell. 



Of shrubs and trees of importance of this family are 

 species of coffee, natives of Abyssinia and Liberia ; the 

 medicinal cinchonas of South America, supplying the 

 invaluable drug " Quinine ; " and the native " Peach " 

 of Africa, which is the fruit of Sarcoceph' alios esculen'tus. 



Hedyo'tis.— This genus consists of small herbaceous 



