CRUCIFER A. 447 
outer petals, and containing an equal number of stamens (jig. 
886), the middle stamen of each bundle having a 2-celled anther 
(jig. 886), the two outer with 1-celled anthers. (fig. 886) ; in rare 
cases there are four stamens, which are then distinct and oppo- 
site the petals. Ovary superior (fig. 887), 1-celled, with parietal 
placentas (figs. 886 and 887) ; style short, or long ‘and filiform ; 
stigma obtuse or lobed ; ovules amphitropous. “Fruit indehis- 
cent and 1- or 2-seeded, or two-valved and dehiscent, or a 
succulent indehiscent pod-like fruit ; in the two latter cases 
containing a number of seeds. Seeds shining, crested ; embryo 
abaxial, minute (fig. 889); albumen fleshy. This order is in- 
cluded in Papaveracexr by Bentham and Hooker. 
Diaqnosis.—Smooth herbs, with a watery juice, and alternate 
exstipulate much-divided leaves. Flowers very irregular and 
unsymmetrical, and either purple, white, or yellow. Sepals 2 
deciduous. Stamens hypogynous, usually 6, diadelphous, or 4, 
distinct ; always opposite to the petals. Ovary superior with 
parietal placentas ; ovules amphitropous. Embryo minute, ab- 
axial, in fleshy albumen. 
Distribution and Numbers.—The plants of this order prin- 
cipally occur in thickets and waste places in the temperate 
latitudes of the northern hemisphere. TIilustrative Genera :— 
Dicentra, Borkh.; Fumaria, Tourn. There are about 110 
species. 
Properties and Uses.—These plants possess slightly bitter, 
acrid, astringent, diaphoretic, emmenagogue, and aperient pro- 
perties. The rhizomes or tubers of Dicentra (Corydalis) formosa 
are the source of corydalin, which is used by the eclectic prac- 
titioners in the United States of America in syphilis, scrofula, 
&c.; but the properties of this and other plants of the order 
appear to be unimportant. Some species are cultivated in our 
gardens and greenhouses. The most important of these is 
Dicentra (Dielytra) spectabilis, which has very showy flowers, 
but, like all other plants of the order, it is scentless. 
Order 4. CruciFER®, the Cruciferous Order.—Character. 
—Herbs, or very rarely shrubby plants. Leaves alternate, 
exstipulate. lowers usually yellow or white, rarely purple, or 
some mixture of these colours ; inflorescence racemose (fig. 891) 
or corymbose ; usually ebracteated. Sepals 4 (fig. 890), deci- 
duous ; xstivation imbricate or rarely valvate. Petals 4 ( figs. 
25, p, and 890), hypogynous, arranged in the form of a 
Maltese cross, alternate with the sepals, deciduous. Stamens 6, 
tetradynamous (fig. 892, ec), iy Deg ynoMs Thalamus furnished 
with small green glands (fig. 892, gl) placed between the sta- 
mens. Ovary superior (fig. 892), “with two parietal placentas 
( fig. 615 and 893), 1-celled, or more usually 2-celled (fig. 890) 
from the formation of a spurious dissepiment called the replum 
(fig. 615, cl) ; ovules generally numerous, arranged alternately 
on twe parietal placentas so as to form a single row, amphitro- 
