CALYCLFLOR^, 517 



Stamens not united into a column. 



Stamens opposite to the petals if equal to 



them in number- Anthers versatile . . Vitacece. 51. 

 Stamens alternate with the petals if equal to 



them in number. Anthers not versatile . Tiliacete. 31. 



In order to prevent the student being misled, and thus to refer plants to their 

 wrong positions in the Vegetable Kingdom, it should be particularly noticed, 

 that although the general character of the TlMlamifloras is to have dichlamy- 

 deous flowers and polypetalous corollas, yet exceptions do occur o-.-casionally 

 to both those characters. Thus, we find apetaloiis genera and species in 

 Ranuncutacecc, Menispermacece, Papaverace<s, Flarourtiaccce, Caryophyl- 

 lacecE, SterculiacetE, Byttneriacea; TdiacecB, Malpightacea, Rutacece. Xan- 

 thoxylacecB, and Geraniacece. Again, in the order> Anonacece and RutacetB, 

 we iSnd some monopetaious species and genera. In TropaeoiaccEe and Lim- 

 nanihaceae the stamens are more or less perigynous, instead of hypogynous, as 

 is commonly the case in the ThalamiflorEe. Perigynous stamens are also oc- 

 casionally found in other Tbalamifioral orders. 



Sub-class II. — CalyciflorcB, 

 1. Perigynje. 



Natural Order 71. Celastraceje. — The Spindle-Tree Order. 

 — General Character. — Shrubs ox small trees. Zeares simple, 

 generally alternate, or rarely opposite, with small deciduous 

 stipules. Sepals 4 — 5, imbricated. Petals equal in number to 

 the sepals, inserted on a large disk which sun-ounds the ovary ; 

 in (Estivation imbricated, sometimes wanting. Stamens as many 

 as the petals and alternate with them, inserted on the disk ; 

 anthers innate. Disk large, flat, and expanded. Ovary supe- 

 rior, surrounded by the disk, 2 — 5-celled, each cell 1 or many- 

 seeded ; placentas axile; ovules ascending, with a short stalk. 

 Fruit superior, 2 — 5-celled, either dnipaceous and indehiscent, 

 or capsular with locuhcidal dehiscence. Seeds ascending, with 

 (Jig. 735), or without an aril ; albumen fleshy ; embryo straight; 

 radicle short, inferior; cotyledons flat. 



Diagnosis. — Shrubby plants, with simple leaves, and small de- 

 ciduous stipules. Flowers small, regular, and perfect ; or rarely 

 unisexual by abortion. Sepals and petals 4 — 5, imbricated in 

 aestivation. Stamens equal in number to, and alternate with 

 the petals, and inserted with them on a large flat expanded 

 disk. Ovary superior, placentas axile. Fruit superior, 2 — 5- 

 celled. Seeds ascending, arillate or exarillate, albuminous ; 

 embryo straight, radicle inferior. 



Distribution, Sfc. — Chiefly natives of the warmer parts of Asia, 

 North America, and Europe ; they are also plentiful at the Cape 

 of Good Hope. Generally speaking the plants of the order are 

 far more abundant out of the tropics than in them. Examples : 

 — Euonymus, Catha, Celastrus, Ptelidium, Elseodendron, Caryo- 

 spermum. There are 30 genera, and 260 species. 



Properties and Uses. — Chiefly remarkable for the presence of 

 an acrid principle. The seeds of some contain oiL The more 

 important plants are as follows : — 

 LL 3 



