DICOTYLEDONS S—THALAMIFLOE.E 277 



Sub-order 4. Sjpirolohece (Q II ID- — Cotyledons twice folded, 



linear, incumbent. Illustrative Ge7vus : — Bunias, Linn. 



There are no examples among British plants. 

 Sub-order 5. DiplecolohecB (Q II II ll)« — Cotyledons thrice 



folded, linear, incumbent. Illustrative Genera : — Senebiera, 



DC. ; Subularia, Linn. 



Distribution and Numbers. — The plants of this order chiefly 

 inhabit temperate climates. A large number are also found in 

 the frigid zone, and a few in tropical regions, chiefly on moun- 

 tains. The order includes about 1,600 species. 



Properties and Uses. — This order is generally characterised 

 by antiscorbutic and pungent properties, frequently combined 

 with acridity ; it is one of the most natural in the Vegetable 

 Kingdom, and does not contain a single poisonous plant. The 

 seeds frequently contain a fixed oil. Many of our commonest 

 culinary vegetables are derived from this order. 



Order 58. Capparidace^, the Caper Order. — C h a r a c t e r. — 

 Herbs, shrubs, or rarely trees. Leaves alternate, exstipulate, or 

 rarely with spiny stipulate appendages. Sepals 4, sometimes 

 cohering more or less ; (estivation imbricate or valvate, equal or 

 unequal. Petals usually 4, cruciate, imbricate, generally unequal 

 and miguiculate. rarely 8, or sometimes none. Stamens nume- 

 rous or definite, if G, very rarely tetradynamous, placed usually 

 upon a prolonged thalamus or stalk by which they are raised 

 above the calyx and corolla. Ovary placed on a gynophore or 

 sessile, 1-celled; placentas 2 or more, parietal; style filiform or 

 wanting ; ovules amphitropous or campylotropous. Fruit 1- 

 celled, usually many-seeded, very rarely 1-seeded, either pod- 

 shaped and dehiscent, or baccate and indehiscent. Seeds 

 generally reniform, without albumen ; embryo curved; cotyledons 

 leafy. 



Diagnosis. — Herbs, shrubs, or trees, with alternate leaves. 

 Sepals and petals 4 each, the latter cruciate, and generally un- 

 equal. Stamens usually numerous, very rarely tetradynamous, 

 connnonly inserted on a stalk, svhich raises them above the calyx 

 and corolla. Ovary 1-celled, placentas parietal. Fruit dehis- 

 cent or indehiscent, 1-celled. Seeds generally reniform ; embryo 

 curved ; no albumen. 



Division of the Order and Illustrative Genera. — The order has 

 been divided, according to the nature of the fruit, as follows : — 

 Sub-order 1. CleomecB. — Fruit capsular and dehiscent. Illus- 

 trative Genera: — Gynandroj^sis, DC. ; Cleome, DC. 



