THALAMIFLOR^. 



45: 



a network over the inner surface of the ovaiy and fruit. Fruit 

 1- celled, dehiscent or in dehiscent, having a thin pulp in its 

 centre. Seeds numerous, usually enveloped in a covering formed 

 by the withered pulp; albumen fleshy-oily; e?w6r?/o straight, axial; 

 radicle turned to the hilum. 



Diagnosis. — Shrubs or small trees, with alternate exstipulate 

 leaves, dotless, or with round dots. Flowers polypetalous or 

 apetalous ; petals hypogynous. Stamens bypogynous, equal in 

 number to the petals, or some multiple of them. Fruit dehiscent 

 or indehiscent; placentas parietal, and sometimes forming a net- 

 work over the inner surface of the fruit. Seeds numerous, 

 albuminous; embryo axial, straight; radicle towards the hilum. 



Distribution, ^c. — The plants of this order are almost confined 

 to the hottest parts of the East and West Indies, and Africa. 

 Examples : — Bixa, Oncoba, Aphloia, Flacourtia, Erythro- 

 sperraum. There are 34 genera, and about 90 species. 



Properties and Uses. — Many plants of the order are feebly 

 bitter and astringent, and have been used as stomachics. The 

 bark of Aphluia is said to be emetic. The fruits of Oncoba and 

 of some of the Flacourtias are edible and wholesome The 

 most important plant of the order is 



Bixa Orellana. — 1 he seeds of this plant are covered by a reddish pulp, from 

 which Arnatto or Annatto.ismade. This is used as a red dye, and for colour- 

 ing cheese and chocolate. The seeds are said to be cordial, astringent and 

 febrifugal. 



Natural Order 20. Violace^. — The Violet Order {figs. 870 

 and 871). — General Character. — Herbs or shrubs. Leaves 

 simple, stipulate (fig. 356), v/ith an involute vernation, alter- 

 nate, or sometimes op- 

 posite. Sepals 5 (fig. 

 775), persistent, imbri- 

 cate, usually prolonged 

 at the base. Petals 5 

 (fig. 775), hypogynous, 

 equal or unequal, one 

 usually spurred. Sta- 

 mens equal in number 

 to the petals (y?^. 775), 

 and usually alternate 

 with them, or rarely 

 opposite, inserted on a 

 hypogynous disk, often 

 unequal ; anthers 2- 

 celled, sometimes uni- 

 ted (fig. 870), burst- 

 ing inwards; filaments short and broad (fig. 870), and elon- 

 gated, so as to project beyond the anthers (fig 514); when 

 the flowers are irregular, two of the anthers are spurred at the 



Fig. 870. 



Fig. 871. 



Fi(/. 870. Essential organs of the Pansy (Viola 

 tricolor), st. Obliquely hooded stigma, a. United 



anthers, two having long appendages below 



Fig. 871. Vertical section of the seed of the Pansy. 



