DICOTYLEDONES— DISCIFLOK^ 



323 



Distribution and Nujnhers. — The plants of this order are 

 found in warm and tropical regions of the globe. None are 

 natives of Europe. The common Grape Vine, which is now 

 completely naturalised in the South of Europe, and is cultivated 

 nearly all over the globe where the temperature does not rise 

 too high or fall too low, is supposed to be a native of the shores 

 of the Caspian. Illustrative Genera : — Vitis, Linn. ; Ampelopsis, 

 L. C. Rich. There are about 260 species. 



Projyerties and Uses. — The leaves, stems, and especially- the 

 unripe fruits of the plants of this order, abound more or less 

 in an acid juice, the acidity being chiefly due to the presence of 

 tartaric and malic acids and acid tartrate of potash. As the 

 fruit ripens, it generally loses its acidity, and becomes sweet, 

 owing to the formation of sugar. 



Cohort 4. — Saxyindales. 



Order 112. SAPiNDACEiE, the Soapwort Order. — Character. 

 Usually large trees or twining shruhs, or rarely climbing herhs. 

 Leaves generally compound, or rarely simple, alternate or some- 

 times opposite, often dotted, stipulate or exstipulate. Flowers 

 mostly perfect and unsymmetrical, sometimes polygamous. 

 Sepals 4—5, either distinct or united at the base, imbricate. 



Fig. 1088. 



Fia. 1089. 



Fio. 1090. 



Fig. 1088. Diagram of the flower of the Horsechestimt (.Exculict Hippo- 

 castanum). Fig. 1089. Vertical section of .the flower. /•',;/. 1090. Ver- 

 tical section of the seed. 



Petals 4 — 5, rarely 0, hypogynous, alternate with the sepals, 

 imbricate, naked or fiunished with an appendage on the inside. 

 Stamens 8 — 10, rarely 5 — 6 — 7, or very rarely 20, inserted into 

 the disc or into the thalamus ; filaments distinct or slightly 

 monadelphous ; anthers introrse, bursting longitudinally. Disc 

 fleshy or glandular, hypogynous or perigynous. Ovary usually 



Y 2 



