64 DICOTYLEDONS 



citrifolia {Kan, Maradarasina, Poppili; Mai. Nonaraaram; Tarn. 

 Xiiiiamaram; Te^ Mulugii; San. Daruharidrri) tlie flowers stand 

 in dense heads on a common globose receptacle. The fruits all 

 grow together in one mass as they ripen, and look as if they 

 resulted from a single flower (compare fruit of Ananas) forming 

 a multiple or collective fruit. 



Some of the fierce spinous shrubs in our jungles are species 

 of Randia and Canthium. Cinchona, a native of Peru, yields 

 the valuable medicine. Quinine. 



15. The Composite Family 



(Compositae). 



Usually annual herbs. Leaves, as a rule, alternate, exstipulate. 

 Inflorescence a head (capihdum) of many small flowers sessile on the 

 receptacle, surrounded by an involucre of whorled or imbricated bracts, 

 the outer florets opening- first. Florets: cal^^x reduced to scales or 

 bristles ; corolla either tubular, or ligulate (strap-shaped) ; stamens 

 five with free filaments but connate (syngenesious), introrse anthers, 

 connective produced upwards. Ovary inferior. Fruit a dry indehis- 

 cent, one-seeded case called achenium, often crowned by a tuft of hairs, 

 called pappus. Seed exendospermous. 



The Sunflower (Helianthus annmis). 



(Kan. Hottiitirug-ana. Turn., Tel. Suryakanti) 



This is an annual herb from South America which is now 

 cultivated in gardens all over India. In some countries, chiefly 

 in Southern Russia and in the Balkan states, it is also grown 

 for its seeds, from which a valuable oil is made. 



1. The young plants soon develop into strong and big herbs 

 which sometimes attain a height of tliree yards. The thick Stem 

 is branched only in its upi)er i)art. It forms a tube which is 

 filled with loose pith. 



2. The Leaves are large and cordate. If a tjire.id be tied to 

 the leaf-stalk of one of the lower leaves and then taken to the 

 second, third, ;md so on, above it, one can clearly see that the 

 leaves are spirally arranfjed around the stem (flg. G7) so that, if 

 ii small ])l;mt is looked at from above, the leaves appear in the 



