NEPENTHACEX.—ARISTOLOCHIACE, 681 
sphere. Ceratophyllum, Linn., is the only genus. The proper- 
ties and uses of the species are unknown. 
Cohort 8. Nepenthales.—Flowers unisexual, dicecious. Calyx 4- 
partite, imbricate. Stamens monadelphous. Ovary superior, 
3—4-celled. Ovules very numerous, attached to the sides of 
the septa. Fruit a loculicidal capsule. Seeds very minute, 
albuminous. Climbing plants. Leaves alternate, terminated 
by pitchers. 
Order 1. NeprENTHACE#, the Pitcher-plant Order.—Cha- 
racter.—Herbs or somewhat shrubby plants. Leaves alternate, 
and when perfect terminated by a pitcher which is provided with 
an articulated lamina (fig. 390). Flowers terminal, racemose, 
unisexual, dicecious. Calyx inferior, with 4 divisions. Stamens 
usually 16, united into a column; anthers 2-celled, extrorse. 
Ovary superior, 4-angled, 4-celled. Frwit a capsule, 4-celled, 
with loculicidal dehiscence. Seeds very minute, numerous, 
albuminous ; embyro with an inferior radicle. 
Distribution, Numbers, and Properties.—Natives of swampy 
ground in China and the East Indies. Nepenthes, Linn., is the 
only genus; it includes about 14 species. Their properties are 
unknown ; but they are remarkable from their pitchers entrap- 
ping and digesting insects and other animal matters, from the 
formation of a digestive ferment by their glands, 
Series 2. Inferze or Epigyne. 
Cohort 1. Asarales.—Flowers hermaphrodite or unisexual. 
Calyx usually coloured. Stamens epigynous in the herma- 
phrodite flowers. Ovary inferior, 1—many-celled. Ovules 
numerous. Fruit baccate or capsular. Seeds usually albu- 
minous ; embryo minute, and sometimes amorphous. 
Order 1. ARISTOLOCHIACEH, the Birthwort Order.—C ha- 
racter.—Herbs or climbing shrubs. Leaves alternate. Flowers 
axillary, hermaphrodite (jig. 1045), dull-coloured, regular or 
irregular. Calyx tubular, superior (fig. 1045), with a valvate 
estivation. Stamens 6—12, arising from the top of the ovary, 
and more or less attached to the style (fig. 1046); anthers 
adnate, extrorse. Ovary inferior (fig. 1045), 3—6-celled with 
numerous ovules; style simple; stigmas radiating (fig. 1046), 
and corresponding in number to the cells of the ovary. Frwit 
eapsular or succulent, 3—6-celled. Seeds numerous, albuminous 
( fig. 1047); embryo very minute (fig. 1047). 
Distribution and Numbers.—Sparingly distributed in several 
parts of the world, but most common in tropical South America. 
Illustratwe Genera :—Asarum, Touwrn.; Aristolochia, Tourn. 
There are about 130 species. 
