DICOTYLEDONES— COEOLLIFLOK.E 



379 



vated. The fi-uits of many species are edible, as those of Astro- 

 loma humifusum, the Tasmanian Cranbeny ; Leucopogon Bichei, 

 the Native Currant of Anstraha ; Lissantlie sapida, and others. 

 Orders 111 and 178. Diapexsiace.e and Stilbace.e. — These 

 are two small orders of shrubby plants, which are placed by 

 Lindley in his Gentianal alliance, and regarded by him as nearly 

 allied to Loganiacea?. The Diapensiaceae are better regarded, 

 however, as being near to the Ericaceae ; some botanists refer 

 them to Convolvulaceae. They have also affinities with both 

 Polemoniaceae and Hydrophyllaceae. They are but 2 genera 

 and 2 species, the uses of which are imknown. They are natives 

 of North America and Northern Europe. — The Stilbaceae, of 

 which there are 3 genera and 7 species, without any known uses, 

 are natives of the Cape of Good Hope. 



Fig. 1143. 



Fig. 1114. 



Fi<j. 1143. Diagram of the flower of a 



species of Plumbago. Fig. 1144. 



SporoplijUs of the same. 



Cohort 11. — Primulales. 



0)derll9. PLUMBAGixACEiE, the Thrift Order. — C h a r a c t e r. 

 Herbs or undershrubs. Leaves entire, alternate or radical, ex- 

 stipulate. Flowers regular. Calyx tubular, plaited, persistent, 

 5-partite. Corolla membranous, 5 -partite or of 5 petals, or 

 rarely absent. Stamens 5, opposite the petals, to which they 

 are attached when the corolla is polypetalous and hypogynous, 

 and opposite to the divisions of the corolla when this is gamo- 

 petalous. Ovary 1-celled ; ovttle solitary, suspended from a long 

 funiculus arising from the base of the cell ; stijles usually .5, some- 



