OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN FLORA. xhii 
CONSPECTUS OF THE ORDERS. 
Crass I. DICOTYLEDONES. 
Subclass I. AnatospeERMpm.—Ovules enclosed in an ovary, 
and seeds in a seed-vessel. 
Grover I. POLYPETALE®. 
Perianth consisting of both calyx and corolla, the latter of distinct petals. 
(The exceptions are very numerous; for in all the large Orders, genera 
occur that want calyx or corolla, or both, and in some the petals cohere or 
are united into a monopetalous corolla.) 
Series I. Thalamiflorze.—Sepals distinct, usually herbaceous, inferior. 
Stamens inserted usually immediately under the ovary, rarely on a lobed or 
expanded disk, free from the calyx, very rarely on the base of the petals. 
Ovary very rarely inferior. 
Cohort I. Ranates.—Stamens very numerous (few, and opposite the petals 
in Menispermacee). Carpels distinct or immersed in a fleshy torus in 
Nympheacee. Embryo small, in fleshy or mealy albumen.—Herbs, 
rarely shrubs or trees. 
Order 1. Ranunculacee (p.1). All herbaceous but Clematis. 
» 2. Anonacee (p. 2). 
» 3. Menispermacee (p. 8). 
» 4. Nympheacee (p. 4). All aquatics. 
} Flowers usually 3- or 6-merous. 
Cohort II. Parterates.—Stamens definite or indefinite. Ovary 1-celled, 
with parietal placentation, rarely (as in Crucifer@) divided into 2 cells 
by a membranous expansion of the placenta, 
Order 5. Papaveracee (p. 5). ) 
» 6. Fumariacee (p. 5). 
» 7. Crucifere (p.6). Herbs, all with alternate exstipulate leaves. 
» 8. Capparidee (p. 11). 
> 9. Resedacee (p. 13). 
» 10. Bixacee (p.13). Has equal affinity with Cohort 13, Passiflorales. 
» ll. Violariee (p. 17). 
», 12. Droseracee (p. 17). More closely allied to 44, Saxifragee. 
These Orders are usually united. 
Cohort IIT. Ponyeatinem.—Flowers regular or irregular. Sepals and 
petals each 5, rarely 3 or 4. Stamens 5 or 10. Ovary 2-celled, usually 
of 2 carpels; ovules numerous, horizontal or pendulous and solitary. 
Albumen fleshy, rarely absent. 
Order 13. Polygalee (p. 18). Flowers very irregular. 
» 14. Pittosporee (p.19). Flowers regular. 
Cohort IV. CarvorHyLrinEx.—Flowers regular. Sepals 2-5, free, rarely 
united. Petals as many, connate at the base in some Portulacee. Sta- 
mens as many as the petals, alternate with them. Ovary 1-celled ; ovules 
attached to a free basal placenta, Embryo usually curved round mealy 
albumen.—Chiefly herbs. 
Order 15. Frankeniacee (p. 20). Embryo straight. 
» 16. Caryophyllacee (p. 20). 
