APETAL^E 195 



Herbs or shrubs, or undershrubs, this group 

 includes many succulent types, as Samphire. The 

 leaves (and stems) are often fleshy, the former alter- 

 nate, or opposite, frequently hairy. There are no 

 stipules. In Samphire the leaves are wanting, and 

 the plant has the cactus habit with jointed stems and 

 branches. 



Primarily the inflorescence is racemose, with cymes 

 in the ultimate branching, with axillary and terminal 

 clusters. The flowers are frequently unisexual, or 

 hermaphrodite, regular, small, sometimes dimorphic. 

 There are one to three bracts or none. The perianth 

 is single, simple, or absent, sepaloid, or calyx-like, 

 inferior, of three to five segments^ free or united below, 

 persistent in fruit, overlapping in bud. There is no 

 corolla. The stamens equal the perianth-segments in 

 number (usually five) , and are opposite the latter, hypo- 

 gynous or inserted on the disc, or perigynous. The 

 anthers are two-celled, inbent in bud. The ovary is 

 one-celled, free, superior, ovoid, round or flattened. 

 In the Beet it is half inferior. There are usually two 

 stigmas (or two to four). The styles are free or 

 united at the base. There is a single basal or lateral 

 ovule. The fruit is a utricle, membranous, or a round 

 nut or achene, which is enclosed in the succulent, 

 fleshy pericarp, with a persistent, sometimes enlarged, 

 calyx. The seeds are round or flattened, and hori- 

 zontal or vertical. The embryo possesses endosperm. 



Pollination is usually effected by the wind, but 

 self-pollination appears to be general. The Gcose- 



