3l2 



MANUAL OF BOTANY 



hypogynous,' ungiiiciilate, rarely wanting; (estivation twisted. 

 Stameiis double the number of the petals and sepals, arranged 

 in two rows alternating with each other, the inner row longer 

 than the outer and opposite to the petals, commonly somewhat 

 monadelphous ; anthers 2- celled, innate. Disc none. Ovary 

 superior, 3 — 5 -celled, with as many distinct styles as there are 

 cells; stigmas capitate or somewhat bifid, i^r?//^ usually cap- 

 sular and 3 — 5-celled and 5— 10-valved, occasionally drupaceous 

 and indehiscent ; ijlacentas axile. Seeds few ; sometimes pro- 

 vided with a fleshy integument, which bursts with elasticity 

 when the fruit is ripe, and expels the seeds ; emhryo straight, in 

 cartilaginous fleshy albumen ; radicle long, and turned towards 

 thehilum; cotyledons fiat. 



Diagnosis. — Herbs, or rarely shrubs or trees, usually with 



Fig. 1081. 



Fig. 1082. 



Fig. 1083. 



Fig. 1081. Diagi'am of the flower of O.ralis. Fig. 1082. Vertical section of 



the flower of tlie same. Fig. 1083. Vertical section of the seeO. 



compound exstipulate leaves. Stems continuous and not sepa- 

 rable at the nodes. Flowers hypogynous, regular, symmetrical. 

 Sepals, petals, and stamens with a qui]iary distribution ; the 

 sepals persistent and imbricate; the petals twisted in aestivation ; 

 the stamens commonly somewhat monadelphous, with 2-celled 

 innate anthers. Disc absent. Styles filiform, distinct. Fruit 

 3_5. celled, without a beak. Seeds few, with abundant albumen, 

 a straight embryo, long radicle turned towards the hilum, and 

 flat cotyledons. This order is closely allied to the Geraniacece, 

 to ivhich it is referred by Bentham and HooJfer. 



Distribution and Numbers. — These plants are generally dis- 

 tributed throughout both the hot and temperate regions of the 

 globe ; the shrubby species are, however, confined to the former. 

 They are most abundant at the Cape of Good Hope and in 



