Classification of Plants 



309 



The plants of this order are usually trees or shrubs with simple or 

 compound stipulate leaves. To this important order belong many of our 

 fruits, as Apples, Pears, Peaches, Strawberries, Blackberries, as well as the 

 Roses. The flowers are open, and expose their honey to bees and flies. 



The order has a variety of fruits. The fruit is rarely a capsule. The 

 single carpel may form a drupe or stone fruit, as in Apricot, Blackberry 

 has a cluster of drupels. Strawberries have clusters of achenes on an 

 enlarged receptacle. The hollow receptacle of the Apple forms most of 

 the fruit. 



The garden fruits belonging to this order and Roses have been intro- 

 duced into South Africa. 



Rubus (the Bramble) is a native of the Colony and of 

 Natal. The fruit is a cluster of little drupes. Trailing shrubs 

 armed with prickles. 



Fig. 281. — Floral diagram of Pear. 



Fig. ■2?,2..—Cliffor'tia. I. Male 

 flower. II. Vertical section 

 of female flower. 



Geum has handsome bright yellow flowers i-i^ inch 

 across. The achenes are very hairy, tailed with the hooked 

 or curved styles. 



G. capense, Th., the only South African species, is a herbaceous plant 1-2 

 feet high, with large radical leaves and a few small stem leaves, From 

 Grahamstown to Natal, 



