DICOT YLEDONE S— THALAMIFLOK^ 



299 



to the sepals, entire or divided, or rarely wanting, imbricate. 

 Siamens hj^pogynous, usually numerous, distinct, or polyadel- 

 phous ; anthers 2-celled, opening longitudinally, or by pores at 

 the apex. Disc glandular, hypogynous. Carpels 2 — 10, which are 

 generally united so as to form a compound, many-celled ovary, 

 sometimes distinct ; placentas axile ; style 1 ; stigmas equal in 

 number to the carpels. Fruit dry or pulpy, sometimes samaroid, 

 usually many-celled, or rarely 1 -celled by abortion. Seeds soli- 

 tary or numerous ; embryo erect, straight, in the axis of fleshy 

 albumen ; cotyledons flat and leafy ; radicle next the hilum. 



Fig. 1070. 



Fig. 1071. 



Fig. 1072. 



Fig. 1070. Diagram of the flower of the 



Lime. Fig. 1071. Yertical section 



of tlie flower of the same {Tilia euro- 



ptm). Fig. 1072. Peduncle of the 



Lime, bearing two flower-buds and 

 a full J' expanded flower. 



Diagnosis. — This order resembles, in many respects, the 

 Malvaceae and Sterculiaceae. It may be at once distinguished 

 from them by having a glandular disc, and by the stamens not 

 being monadelphous ; and from the Malvaceae also by the 

 anthers being 2-celled. From all other Thalamiflorae the plants 

 of this order may be known by their alternate simple stipulate 

 leaves ; valvate aestivation of calyx, which is also deciduous ; 

 floral envelopes in 4 or 5 divisions ; stamens either distinct or 

 polyadelphous ; anthers 2-celled ; hypogynous glandular disc ; 

 many-celled fruit with axile placentas ; and embryo erect, 

 straight in the axis of fleshy albumen. 



