DICOTYLEDONES— THALAMIFLOE^ 



273 



at the apex. Stamens hypogynous, usually 6, diadelphous, the 

 two bundles being opposite the outer petals, and containing an 

 equal number of stamens, the middle stamen of each bundle 

 having a 2-celled anther, the two outer with 1 -celled anthers ; 

 in rare cases there are four stamens, which are then distinct and 

 opposite the petals. Ovanj superior, 1 -celled, with parietal 

 placentas; style short, or long and filiforin; s^^V/ ma obtuse or 

 lobed ; ovules amphitropoas. Fruit indehiscent and 1- or 

 2-seeded, or 2-valved and dehiscent, or a succulent indehiscent 

 pod-like fruit ; in the two latter cases containing a number of 

 seeds. Seeds shining, crested ; emhryo abaxial, minute ; aJhu- 



FiG. 1035. 



Fig. 1036. 



Fig. 1037. 



Fig. 1038. 



Fig. 1035. Diagram of the flower of Corydalis, with two sepals, four petals, in two 

 whoi'ls, six stamens in two bundles, and a one-celled ovary with two 



parietal placentas. Fi'j. 108(). Vertical section of tlie flower of lliipccoinn. 



Fig. 1037. Upper or posterior petal of Corydalis, spurreil at the base, 



and a bundle of three stamens. Fig. 1038. Vertical section of tlie seed 



of Futnnria. 



men fleshy. This order is included in Pajjaveracece by 

 Bentham and HooTcer. 



Diagnosis.— Smooth, herbs, with a watery juice, and alternate 

 exstipulate much-divided leaves. Flowers very irregular and 

 unsymmetrical, and either purple, white, or yellow. Sepals 2, 

 deciduous. Stamens hypogj'iious, usually 6, diadelphous, or 4 

 distinct ; alwa3's opposite to the petals. Ovary superior with 

 parietal placentas ; ov\iles amphitropous. Embryo minute, ab- 

 axial, in fleshy albumen. 



Distribution and Numbers. —The plants of this order prin- 

 cipally occur in thickets and waste places in the temperate 

 latitudes of the northern hemisphere. Illustrative Genera : — 

 Dicentra, BorA-Ji. ; Fumaria, Tourn. There are about 110 species. 



VOL. II. T 



