Classification of Plants 



235 



with alternate or rarely opposite leaves. Flowers in heads or 

 umbels (axillary in one species), white or reddish purple. 



Order Polygalace^. 



This order is often mistaken for Leguminosese, as the 

 flowers suggest a gay swarm of little butterflies ready for flight 

 A difference in the flowers will be brought out by comparing 



Fig. 236. — Adcnandra scrpyllacea. 



the floral diagrams. Instead of a large standard at the back, 

 the Polygalaceae have two small petals. One large one in 

 front forms the keel. The two side petals are often absent, 

 and the wings are formed by the two broad coloured side 

 sepals. The stamens are usually 8. The fruit a 2-celled 

 capsule or a 1-2-seeded drupe. 



Sepals very unequal, the two side ones wing-like. 

 Polygala. — Fruit a 2 -celled, heart-shaped capsule. 

 Mundtia. — Fruit a juicy drupe. 

 Securidia. — Fruit a winged achene. 



