THALAMIFLOE^. 513 



amples : — Tropaeolum, Chymocarpus. There are 4 genera, and 

 about 40 species. 



Properties and Uses. — Generally acrid, pungent, and anti- 

 scorbutic, resembling the Cruciferse. The unripe fruit of 

 Tropcpolum majus, Avhich is commonly known as the Indian 

 Cress or Garden Nasturtium, is frequently pickled, and em- 

 ployed by housekeepers as a substitute for Capers. Most 

 of the Tropceolums have tuberous roots, some of which are 

 edible, as T. tuberosum. 



Natural Order 70. Liivinanthace^. — The Limnanthes 

 Order. — Diagnosis. — This is a small order of plants included 

 by Lindley in the Tropaeolaceae, Avith which it agrees in its 

 general characters ; but it is at once distinguished from that 

 order by having regular flowers ; more evidently perigynous 

 stamens ; and erect ovules. It forms a sort of transition order 

 between Thalamifloral and Calycifloral Exogens, although, 

 perhaps, it should be included in the latter. 



Distribution, Sfc — Natives of North America. Examples: 

 Limnanthes, Florkea. There are but 2 genera, and 3 species. 



Properties and Uses. — In these they resemble the Tropaeo- 

 laceae. 



We conclude our notice of the Natural Orders included 

 under the Sub-class Thalamiflor£e, by the following Artificial 

 Analysis. It is founded upon that given by Lindley in 

 his Vegetable Kingdom. The object sought to be attained in 

 this analysis, is to facilitate the student in ascertaining the order 

 to which a plant belongs; and, then, when the plant has 

 thus been referred to its proper order, by turning to the des- 

 cription of that order as numbered below, he will find a more 

 complete account, and be enabled to gain a perfect knowledge 

 of it. It should be noticed that, however carefully such artificial 

 analyses may be drawn up, it is almost impossible to render 

 them universally applicable, on account of the extreme shortness 

 of the characters which are necessarily employed. 



Artificial Analysis of the Natural Orders in the Sub -class 



Tha la mifl or^-e. 



(The numbers refer to the Orders in the present work.) 



1. Flowers Polyandrous — Stamens more than 20. 



A. Leaves without stipules. 



a. Carpels more or less' distinct, {at least as to the styles), or solitary. 

 1. Stamens distinct. 



Carpels immersed in a fleshy tabular 



thalamus Nelumbiace<s. 11. 



Carpels not immersed in a thalamus. 

 Embryo in a vitellus . . . . Cabombacece. 9. 

 Embryo naked, very minute. 



Seeds arillnte . ' . ' . . . Dilleniacece. 2. 

 Seeds exarillate. Albumen fleshy and 

 homogeneous. 

 Flowers hermaphrodite . . Ranunculacece. 1. 



Flowers unisexual . * . . . Schizandracea . 6. 

 LL 



