306 MANUAL OF BOTANY 



riiig, from which proceed 5 tooth-hke processes (staminodes) 

 which alternate with the fertile stamens, and are opposite to 

 the petals. Disc none or glandular. Ovary compoimd, its 

 cells -usually corresponding in number to the sepals ; styles 3 — 

 5 ; stigmas capitate. Fruit a septicidal capsule, each cell more 

 or less perfectly divided into two by a spurious dissepiment 

 proceeding from the dorsal suture, and having a single seed in 

 each division. Seed compressed, with or without albumen ; 

 embryo straight, with the radicle towards the hilum. 



Diagnosis. — Herbs or very rarely shrubs, with simiple entire 

 leaves, which are usually exstipulate. Flowers regular, syn\- 

 metrical. Sepals, petals, and stamens 3 — 5 each ; the sepals 

 persistent and imbricate ; the petals fugacious and twisted in 

 aestivation ; the fertile stamens united at their bases, and having 

 little tooth-like staminodes alternating with them. Ovary 3 — 5- 

 celled, styles distinct, stigmas capitate. Fruit a septicidal 

 capsule, each cell more or less divided by a spm-ious dissepiment, 

 and each division containing one seed. Seeds compressed, with 

 or without albumen, and a straight embr^^o. 



The plants of the order Erytliroxylaccce of some botanists, 

 wdiich, following Bentham and Hooker, we include in this order, 

 are exceptional in each petal having at its base two scales, in 

 their drupaceous fruit, and W'Oody stem. 



Distributio7i and Numhers. — Chiefly natives of the south of 

 Europe, Brazil, and some other parts of South America, West 

 Indies, and the north of Africa, but more or less distributed 

 over most regions of the globe. Illustrative Genera : — Linum, 

 Linn. ; Eadiola, Gmelin. There are about 160 species. 



ProiJerties and Uses. — The plants of this order are generally 

 remarkable for the tenacity of their bast fibres, and also for the 

 mucilage and oil contained in their seeds ; hence the latter are 

 emollient and demulcent. A few of the plants are bitter and 

 purgative, and some are stimulant and sedative. Others are 

 tonic, and some are used for djeing red. 



Order 86. Humiriace^, the Humirium Order. — C h a r a c - 

 ter. — Trees or shruhs with a balsamic juice. Leaves alternate, 

 simple, coriaceous, exstipulate. Calyx 5-partite, imbricate. 

 Petals 5, imbricate. Stamens hypogynous, 20 or more, mona- 

 delphous ; anthers 2-celled ; connective elongated bej'ond the 

 anther lobes. Ovary superior, usually surrounded by a disc, 5- 

 celled; ovules 1 or 2 in each cell, suspended; style simple; 

 stigma 5-lobed. Fruit drupaceous, 5-celled, or fewer-celled by 



