280 MANUAL OF BOTANY 



or rarely opposite, inserted on a hypogynons disc, often unequal ; 

 anthers 2-celled, sometimes united, mtrovBe ; fila7nents short 

 and broad, and elongated, so as to project beyond the anthers ; 

 when the flowers are irregular, two of the anthers are spurred 

 at the base. Ovary 1-celled, with 3 parietal placentas; style 

 single, usually declinate ; stigma capitate oblique, hooded ; 

 ovules usually numerous. Fruit capsular, 3-valved, dehiscence 

 loculicidal ; ^;Zrtcenfrts parietal, on the middle of the \alves. 

 Seeds usually numerous, sometimes definite ; embryo straight, 

 erect, in the axis of fleshy albumen. 



Diagnosis. — Herbs or shrubs. Leaves simple, stipulate, 

 and with involute vernation. Sepals, petals, and stamens 5 

 each, hypogynous. Stamens all perfect ; anthers introrse with 

 the filaments prolonged beyond them, and sometimes having 

 s^jur-like appendages below. Ovary 1-celled, with three parietal 

 placentas ; style and stigma single. Fruit 1-celled, dehiscing by 

 3 valves, each valve bearing a placenta in its middle. Seeds 

 having a straight erect embryo in the axis of fleshy albumen. 



Fig. 1050. 



Fia. 1049. SporopliyDs of the Tansy (Viola tricolor), st. Obliquely hooded 

 stiguia. a. United aiither.«;, two having long spurred appendages at the 

 base. Fig. 105U. Vertical section of the seed. 



Division of the Order and Illustrative Genera. — The order 

 has been divided as follows : — 

 Sub-order 1. Violece. — Having irregular flowers and appendaged 



anthers. Illustrative Genera : — Viola, Linn.; lonidium, Vent. 

 Sub-order 2. Alsodea. — With regular flowers, and anthers not 



furnished with spurred appendages. Illustrative Ge^iera : — 



Alsodeia, TJiouars ; Pentaloba, Lour. 



Distribution and Nnmbers. — The herbaceous plants of the 

 sub-order Violeae are chiefly natives of Europe, Siberia, and 

 North America ; the shrubbv mostly of South America. The 



