OXALIDACILE. WOOD-SORREL TRIBE. 131 



at the mouth and curved downwards at the extremity ; 

 on each side of this is a large wavy petal unequally 

 lobed, the largest lobe next the spur, the smaller being 

 easily separable, and having the appearance of a distinct 

 petal. Opposite the stem is a very broad, wavy petal ; 

 and at its base are 5 stamens with short filaments, united 

 just beneath the anthers into a ring, and enclosing 

 a 5-celled ovary. The sepals and petals soon fall off, 

 when the ovary enlarges to a 5 -celled, 5-valved capsule, 

 externally resembling a cylindrical, strongly ribbed pod. 

 As the seeds approach towards maturity, the valves of 

 the capsule acquire an extraordinary elastic power, and, 

 if touched, instantaneously curl into a spiral form, and 

 spring with considerable force many feet from the plant, 

 dropping the seeds in the way. 



Only one of the Balsam tribe is a native of Europe, 

 but in India they are very numerous, and several are 

 cultivated in British gardens. 



1. IMPATIENS (Balsam). Characters described above. 

 The name signifying impatient, was given from the sud- 

 den curling of the valves of the capsule when touched. 

 The only English species, I. Noli-me-tangere (Do-not- 

 touch-me\ is an elegant plant, 1 2 feet high, with large 

 flowers of a delicate yellow, beautifully spotted with 

 orange colour. It grows in moist shady woods and on 

 the stony banks of rivers in Yorkshire and Westmore- 

 land. EL July, August. Annual. 



ORDER XXIL OXALIDACEZE. THE WOOD-SORREL 

 TRIBE. 



Sepals 5, persistent ; petals 5, equal, often united at 

 the base, twisted when in bud; stamens 10, with the 

 Jilaments generally combined at the base, the 5 outer 

 shortest ; ovary 3 5 celled ; styles 3 5 ; capsule 3 5 

 celled, with as many, or twice as many, valves ; seeds 

 enclosed each in an elastic case, which curls back when 

 the fruit is ripe, and throws the seeds to a distance. 



K2 



