450 SYSTEMATIC BOTANY. 



withering, hypogynous ; anthers extrorse. Ovary 1 -celled, supe- 

 rior; sti/les 3 — 5, distinct or connected at the base; ovules 

 numeroiis, anatropal. Fruit capsular, 1 -celled, bursting by 3 

 or 5 valves, which bear the placentas in their middle or at their 

 base ; hence the dehiscence is loculicidal. Seeds numerous, with 

 or without an aril ; embryo minute, at the base of abundant fleshy 

 albumen. 



Diagnosis. — Bog or marsh herbs, with alternate exstipulate 

 leaves, and a circinate vernation. Peduncles when young, cir- 

 cinate. Flowers regular and symmetrical, hypogynous, with a 

 quinary arrangement of their parts, which are also persistent 

 and imbricate. Anthers extrorse. Placentas parietal. Fruit 

 capsular, 1 -celled, with loculicidal dehiscence. Seeds numerous ; 

 embryo small at the base of copious fleshy albumen. 



Distribution, <Sfc. — These plants are found in almost all parts 

 of the world, with the exception of the Arctic regions. Ex- 

 amples of the Genera : — Drosera, Dionsea. There are about 90 

 species in this order. 



Properties and Uses. — They possess slightly acid and acrid 

 properties. Some of the Droseras are said to be poisonous to 

 cattle, but there is no satisfactory proof of such being the case. 

 It has been supposed that certain species of Drosera would yield 

 valuable dyes, because they communicate a brilliant purple stain 

 to the paper upon which they are dried, and also from the cir- 

 stance of their yielding a yellow colour when treated with am- 

 monia. The plants of the order are, however, chiefly interesting 

 from the peculiar irritability of the glands or hairs on their 

 leaves. Thus the Sun-dews {Droseras) are fringed with beau- 

 tiful stalked glands, which close more or less in diflferent species 

 when insects alight upon them ; while Dionaa muscipitla {fig, 

 349), a native of North America, has two-lobed leaves, each of 

 which is furnished on its upper surface with three stiff hairs, 

 which, when touched, cause the two halves of the leaf to collapse 

 and enclose the object touching them. This plant is sometimes 

 cultivated in our stoves, and is commonly known as Venus's 

 Fly-trap. 



Natural Order 23. FRANKENiACEiE. — The Frankenia Order. — 

 Character. — Htrbs or uvdershrubs, much branched. Leaves o-p- 

 posite, exstipulate, with a membranous sheathing base. Flowers 

 sessile. Calyx tubular, with 4 or 5 di^nsious, equal, persistent. 

 Petals 4 or 5, distinct, imbricate, often appendaged, unguiculate, 

 hypogynous. Stamens 4 or 5, or twice as many as the petals, 

 hypogynous, distinct; anthers versatile. Ovary 1 -celled, supe- 

 rior; "^style 2, 3, or 4-fld ; ovules numerous, anatropal; placetitas 

 parietal. F)'uit capsular, with septicidal dehiscence, 1-celled, 

 many-seeded, 2, 3, or 4-valved, enclosed in the calyx. Seeds 

 numerous, very minute ; embryo straight, erect, in the middle of 

 albumen. 



