GAMOPETAL.E 319 



44- The Bird's Nest Group. 



This type and the Wintergreens are placed in 

 the order Pyrolaceae in some arrangements, or with 

 the last group, or in a separate order as here, the 

 order Monotropacaee. 



The single British species described here is a 

 saprophyte, erect, succulent and herbaceous. 



The leaflets are simple, erect, brown or red. The 

 stem is scaly, the scales passing into bracts above. 



The flowers are solitary, in a spike or raceme. 

 There are two to six sepals or bracts, and they are 

 deciduous. There are three to six petals, which are 

 occasionally united below, erect or spreading, over- 

 lapping in the bud. The stamens are hypogynous, 

 and six to twelve in number. The anther-stalks are 

 distinct or united by their base. The anthers open 

 by transverse valves, or slits. In the Ericaceae they 

 open by pores. The ovary is four- to six-lobed, one- 

 or four- to six-celled. The style is simple, with a 

 pinheaded, peltate, terminal stigma, which is lobed 

 or funnel-shaped. There are many ovules, which 

 are very small and naked. 



The capsule is membranous, four- to five- or six- 

 celled, four- to six-lobed, opening by slits opposite 

 the middle of the cells. The seeds are very small. 



The group is closely related to the Heath Group. 

 None of the plants which are natives of the North 

 Temperate zone, Europe, Asia, America, have any 

 properties of importance. From the Wintergreens 



