556 



SYSTEMATIC BOTANY. 



Fig. 936. 



number of species are cultivated in this country on account of 

 the beauty of their flowers. 



Natural Order 112. ONAGRACEiE. — The Evening Primrose 

 Order. — General Character. — Herbs or shrubs. Leaves 

 alternate or opposite, simple, exstipulate, without dots. Calyx 

 {fig. 936) superior, tubular, with the limb usually 

 4-lobed, or sometimes 2-lobed {fig. 765); in 

 aBStivation valvate. Petals usually large and 

 showy, generally regular and equal in number to 

 the divisions of the calyx {figs. 765 and 936), 

 twisted in aestivation, and inserted into the throat 

 of the calyx, rarely absent. Stamens {figs. 765 

 and 936) definite, 2, 4, or 8, or rarely by abortion 

 1, inserted with the petals into the throat of the 

 calyx; filaments distinct; pollen trigonal {figs. 

 559 and 561). Ovary inferior {fig. 936), 2—4- 

 celled; placentas axile ; style 1, filiform ; stigma 

 lobcd, or capitate. Fruit capsular, or succulent 

 and indchiscent, 1, 2, or 4-celled. Seeds nume- 

 rous ( fig. 936), without albumen; embryo straight. 

 Diagnosis. — Herbs or shrubs, with simple, ex- 

 sti])ulate, dotlcss leaves. Calyx superior, 2 — 4- 

 lobed, valvate in oistivation. Petals usually 

 equal in number to the lobes of the calyx, with a 

 twisted aestivation, or rarely absent. Stamens 

 few, (usually 2, 4, or 8), inserted into the throat 

 of the calyx with the petals. Ovary inferior, 

 2 —4-celled ; style simple ; stigma lobed, or capi- 

 tate. Fruit dehiscent or indehiscent. Seeds 

 numerous, without albumen. 



IJislribntiony S^c. — Chiefly natives of the tem- 

 perate parts of North America and Europe; many are also found 

 in India, but they are rare in Africa except at the Cape. 

 Examples: — Jussi^ea, Isnardia, (Enothera, Godetia, Clarkia, 

 Epilobium, Montinia, Fuchsia, Circaea, Gaura. There are 30 

 genera, and 450 species. 



Properties and Uses. — Unimportant. Generally the plants are 

 harmless, and possess mucilaginous properties. The roots of 

 (Enothera biennis and other species are edible. The fruits 

 of many Fuchsias are somewhat acid, and good to eat. Some 

 species of ./ussicea are astringent. Several species of (Enothera 

 open their yellow flowers in the evening, and hence they have 

 been called Evening Primroses. 



Natural Order 113. Halouagace;e. — The Mare's Tail or 

 Water-Chestnut Order. — Diagnosis. — Herbs or shrubs, generally 

 a<|uatic. Flowers small (^^/. 389), frequently incomplete and 

 unisexual. They are nearly allied to Onagracea*, and, in fact 

 arc merely a degeneration or imperfect form of that order. They 



Fio.mc. Verti- 

 cal section of 

 the flower of a 

 Willow-herb 

 iEpilobium). 



