THALAMIFLOK^. 



449 



watery juice. Leaves alternate, much divided, exstipulate 



Sepals 2 (Jig. 856), deciduous. Petals 4, cruciate, very irre- 



Fig. 856. Fig. 857. Fig. 858. 



Fig. 859 



Fig. 8.56. Diagram of the flower of Coryddlis, with two sepals, four petals, six 



stamens in two bundles, and a one-celled pistil Fig. 857. Vertical section of 



the flower of Hypecoum Fig. 85S. Upper or posterior petal of Corydalis, 



and a bundle of three stamens Fig. 859. Vertical section of the seed oi Fumaria. 



gular, in two whorls {jig. 856); one or both of the outer petals 

 saccate or spurred {fig. 858), the two inner frequently united at 

 the apex. Stamens hypogynous, usually 6, diadelphous, the two 

 bundles being opposite the outer petals, and containing an equal 

 number of stamens {figs. 856 and 858), the middle stamen of 

 each bundle having a 2-celled anther {fig. 856), the two outer 

 with 1-celled anthers ; rarely 4 stamens, which are then distinct 

 and opposite the petals. Ovary superior {fig. 857), 1-celled 

 {fig. 856) ; style filiform; stigma with two or more points; ovules 

 amphitropal. Fruit either indehiscent and 1 or 2-seeded ; or 

 two-valved, dehiscent {fig. 857), or a succulent indehiscent pod- 

 like fruit; in the two latter cases containing a number of seeds. 

 Seeds shining, crested ; embryo abaxial, minute {fig. 859) ; 

 albumen fleshy 



Diagnosis. — Smooth herbs, with a watery juice, and alter- 

 nate, 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; o^'i ''^s horizontal, amphitropal. Em- 

 bryo minute, abaxial, in fle'-uy albumen. 



Distribution, Sfc, — The plants of this order principally occur 

 in thickets and waste places in the temperate latitudes of the 

 northern hemisphere. Examples: — Hypecoum, Dicentra, Cory- 

 dalis, Fumaria, There are 15 genera, including 110 species. 



Properties and Uses. — They, possess slightly bitter, acrid, 

 astringent, diaphoretic, emmenagogue, and aperient properties ; 



