KEY. 151 



2^7, Sepals, calyx-lobes, or teeth, more than 3 228 



Sepals 3, green. Petals 3, blue. Stamens 6, 3 of 

 them sterile, with cross-shaped glands in place of anthers ; one 

 of the 3 fertile ones bent inward. The 2 lateral sepals partly- 

 united. The 2 lateral petals orbicular or kidney-shaped, the 

 odd one smaller. Pod 3-celled. Leaves longitudinally 

 veined, contracted at the base into sheathing petioles; the 

 floral ones forming a sort of spathe. Commelyna. 



SS8, Sepals 5, namely, 3 smaller greenish, and 2 larger 

 petaloid ones. Petals 3, placed between the 2 larger sepals, 

 connected with each other and the split tube of 6-8 stamens, 

 the middle one boat-shaped and often crested at the back. 

 Pod 2-celled, 2-seeded, flat, often notched at the top. Low, 

 bitter herbs. Leaves simple, entire, often dotted. Flowers 

 white, purple, or yellow. Polygala. 



Calyx herbaceous throughout, regular, or some- 

 times 2-lipped •. 229 



239. Stamens 5-10, all free 230 



Stamens 10 (very rarely 5), monadelphous or dia- 

 delphous, mostly with 9 united in a tube, which is cleft on 

 the upper side 234 



330. Stamens 7 (rarely 6 or 8), often unequal, sometimes 

 declined or curved. Calyx tubular, 5-lobed, often oblique or 

 gibbous at the base. Petals 5, unequal, clawed. Ovary 

 3-celled, each cell 2-ovuled. Fruit coriaceous, or, when 

 young, prickl3\ Flowers polygamous, or staminate, panicled 

 terminal. Leaves digitate; leaflets 5-7, serrate. Trees or 

 shrubs. iEsculus. 



Stamens 10 (or 5). Fruit a legume. Trees or 

 herbs 231 



231, Calyx tubular, 5- (rarely 4-) toothed 232 



Calyx of 5, scarcely united sepals. Petals unequal, 

 but not at all papilionaceous, sj^reading. Stamens 10, or, by 

 abortion, fewer, unequal. Anthers opening by 2 pores or 

 chinks at the apex. Herbs, often 5 feet high, with abruptly 

 pinnate leaves and yellow flowers, in short axillary racemes, 

 or supra-axillary clusters. Cassia. 



