537 



difference only, that in the latter they are imbedded in 

 the pulp, which fills the calyx. The segments of the ca- 

 lyx are mostly in a double series, the innermost largest, 

 the outer alternate therewith, and smaller, answering to 

 the petals. Stamens for the most part numerous, but 

 Sibbaldia, Alchemilla, and Aphanes form an exception, 

 the first having five stamens, the two last only four," (or 

 even fewer). " The pistils vary in number. There is 

 nothing acrid in the whole order, nor much fragrance; 

 there is much of a styptic, little of a mucilaginous qua- 

 lity; nothing poisonous; so that if the fruits are worth 

 tasting, they may certainly be eaten with impunity." 



Order 37. Columnifer^. " So called, not because 

 the author meant to express, in the name, the essential 

 character, but in allusion to some distinguished examples 

 of this order, whose stamens are united into a columnar 

 form. Linnaeus was really the founder of the order in 

 question, though Tournefort endeavoured to keep together 

 as many of the same plants as possible, under his Mono- 

 petali Campaniformes. But the corolla has five petals, 

 though they all fall off" in one body, being connected with 

 the combined stamens. Some have been denominated 

 akin to Malvacea ; indeed many of the class Monadelphia 

 belong to this tribe." 



" The root in all these plants is fibrous, in no instance 

 bulbous or tuberous. Stem often herbaceous, but there 

 are many arboreous, and amongst others the kinds of 

 Bombax, or Silk Cotton, almost the largest trees in the 

 world. Some of these only bear spines ; but some spe- 

 cies of Hibiscus are prickly. There is scarcely a perfectly 

 smooth plant in the whole order. They have all stipulas, 

 in pairs. The leaves are alternate, never opposite ; in 

 numerous instances stalked ; plaited in the bud; and, 

 what is remarkable, many of them have glandular pores 

 under the rib. No tendrils are found in the order. The 

 inflorescence is various. Calyx in several simple and five- 

 cleft, but in some genera double, as Malva, Alcea, A I- 



