404 



THE RANALES 



(Amarantluts). The flowers are arranged in loose clusters and 

 are for the most part small and anemophilous (Fig. 303). How- 

 ever, it is noteworthy that some of the genera are entomophilous, 

 the calyx becoming larger and brightly colored and nectar glands 



Fig. 302. 



Fig. 303. 



Fig. 302. Inflorescence and fruit of elm, order Urticales : A, twig of 

 elm bearing principally staminate flowers. B, a staminate flower enlarged, 

 showing lobed perianth enclosing numerous stamens. C, pistillate flower, 

 two-lobed stigma projecting from perianth. D, section of pistillate flower, 

 showing aborted (sterile) stamens and pistil (fertile) of two carpels, as 

 indicated by the two stigmas. E, the fruit and perianth still attached. A 

 wing has grown out from the sides of the ovary. 



Fig. 303. A simple type of the Chenopodiales : A, shoot of Mexican tea 

 (Chaiopodiiim), showing character of inflorescence, in. B, flower en- 

 larged, showing the perianth, stamens and pistil of three cohering carpels. 



are associated with it. In the higher members of the order, as 

 in the purslane and pink families (which includes the spring 

 beauty, Claytonia), the perianth becomes differentiated into a 

 calyx and showy corolla, and the flowers have become in a 

 marked degree adapted to insect visitors (Fig. 304). These 

 orders form a natural transition from the primitive flowers of 

 the willows and beeches to the large flowers of the next order 

 with their showy perianths, though the structure of the flower 

 does not indicate a relationship between them. 



142. Ranales, the Buttercup or Crowfoot Order. — This large 



