GAMOPETAL.E 329 



are radical or stem-leaves, opposite or alternate, and 

 do not possess stipules. 



The flowers are borne on scapes, terminal when 

 the flowers are not solitary. They are usually 

 regular and hermaphrodite. Many are heterostylic, 

 as in the Primrose and Cowslip. The parts are in 

 fives and the flowers do not possess bracteoles. The 

 fifth or odd sepal is posterior. The calyx is inferior 

 except in Brookweed, gamosepalous, persistent, 

 five- or four- to nine-cleft. 



The corolla is hypogynous, gamopetalous, wheel- 

 shaped, bell-shaped, regular, with five combined 

 petals, or five distinct, or none, as in the Sea Milkwort. 

 There are five epipetalous stamens, inserted on the 

 corolla-tube, opposite the lobes, with alternate 

 staminodes, and in the Sea Milkwort hypogynous. 

 The anther-stalks are very short. The anthers 

 open inwards. The ovary is superior, half inferior 

 in Brookweed, syncarpous, of five carpels. The 

 style and stigma are simple. The capsule is five- 

 valved, or opens transversely. The seeds are sunk 

 in the placenta. 



The pollination and seed-dispersal are described 

 under the species. 



Scarlet Pimpernel (AitagalHs arvensis). 



Named also the Poor Man's Weather-glass, because 

 the flowers close in dull or wet weather, the Scarlet 

 Pimpernel is one of the " mercurial " plants, so- 



