OKDER XVII. CISTACE.E. ORDEU XXIV. TILIACE^E. 



109 



loculicidal dehisccnce, and 2 5 parietal placentae. Seeds usually 

 many. Embryo small. 



A small order of marsh plants, of which Drosera, or the Sun-dew, is an ex- 

 ample. To this order the following suborder is usually appended : 



SOB-ORDER. PARSASSLE. Plants without glandular hairs, the 

 petals imbricate in prefloration, and furnished with 5 appendages 

 opposite each petal, consisting of several sterile stamens united 

 together. Stamens somewhat perigynous. Anthers introrse. 

 Stigmas placed opposite the 4 parietal placcnUe. Seeds desti- 

 tute of albumen. 



A beautiful example is Been in I'arnassla, G.-tint of ParnaMut. 



GROUP IV. 

 OKDER XVII. Cistaceae. 



Herbs, or low shrubs. Leaves simple, the lowest commonly 

 opposite; the rest usually alternate. Flowers perfect, yellow, 

 sometimes white, or red. Sepals mostly 5, the 3 inner convolute 

 in prefloration, the 2 outer minute, or wanting. Petals 5, rarely 

 8, regular, in prefloration usually convolute in a direction con- 

 trary to that of the sepals. Stamens indefinite, sometimes few, 

 hypogynous, distinct Anthers innate. Ovary of 8 5 united 

 c:i!|>. N. Style 1. Fruit a l-cellcd, or imperfectly 8 5-cclled 

 < Mp-nlc. Seeds few, or numerous. 



A small and unimportant order, distinguished by the very showy flowers oj 

 some of the species. The most common examples are Heiianthcuinm tRodb 

 Ilote, or Ice Itant), and Lechea (/'in Weed). 



ORDER XVIII. Hypericaceoe. 



Ilc-rbs, or shrubs. Leaves opposite, cntirn. without stipules, 

 usually punctate with black glanda and transparent dots. Flow- 

 ers mostly regular. Sepals 4 5, distinct, or united at base, 

 persistent Petals as many as tho sepals, and alternate with 

 them, twisted in prefloration. Stamens hypogynous, usually 

 numerous, and cohering by their filaments in U, or more sets ; 

 sometimes definite, and monadelphous, or distinct Anthers 

 versatile. Ovary composed of 2 5 united carpels. Styles 25, 

 distinct, or partially united. Fruit a many-seeded capsule, with 

 septicidal dehisccnce, either l-cellcd, 



2 5-celled. 



A small order of unimportant plants. 

 a good example. 



, or more or less completely 



The nypericum (St. Jb/tn't Wort), Is 



ORDER XIX. Elatinacese. 



Annual herbs. Leaves opposite, with minute, membranaceons 

 stipules. Flowers minute, axillary. Sepals 2 5, mostly distinct 

 persistent Petals as many as the sepals, and alternate with 

 them. Stamens as many, or twice as many as the petals. Ovary 

 2 5-cclled. Styles, or stigmas, 2 5. Capsule 2 5-celled, 2 5- 

 valvcd, many -seeded, crowned by the persistent stigmas. 



A Tcry small order of unimportant marsh plants, of which our only example 

 isaipociesof Elatino. 



ORDER XX. Caryophyllaceae. 



Il'jrbs. Stems with tumid nodes. Leaves opposite, entire 

 sometime* vertic-illatc. Flowers regular. Sepals 4, or 5, some 

 lini.M ci)lii-rent in a tube. Petals 4 or 5, or none. Stamens as 

 ni-iiiy, or twice as many as the petals, rarely only 2 or 3. Ovari 

 mostly 1-celled. Styles 2 3, stigmatose on the inner side. Frni 

 a l-cellcd utricle, or more commonly a capsule, 2 5-volved, 01 

 opening at top by twice as many valves, or teeth, as there art 

 stigmas. 



A largo order i-ontainlnjf miny beautiful plants, inch ax tlio TM.-inthu 

 (rink). Hi-. 1, nml also many Insignificant weeds, of which the Steluiria (CVitofc 

 veect), and Mollu^o (Carpet-weed), are examples. 



Fig. 4 



ORDER XXI. Portulacaceaa. 



Herbs, more or less succulent, or fleshy. Loaves opposite, or 

 alternate, entire, destitute of proper stipules. Flowers showy, 

 opening only in the sunshine, solitary. Sepals 2, often cohering 

 to the ovary at base. Petals 5, rarely more, ephemeral. Stamens 

 variable in number, sometimes as many as the petals, and oppo- 

 site them. Ovary 1-celled. Styles 2 8, stigmatosc along the 

 inner surface. Fruit opening transversely, forming a pyxis, fig. 

 7, Plate XXVII.; or else a loculicidal capsule, with as many 

 valves as there are stigmas. Seeds numerous, or few. 



A small order of unimportant plants, Including, however, many with showy 

 flowers. Fortulaca (Purslane), and the Claytonia are examples, 



ORDER XXII. Mesembryanthemacese. 



Succulent herbs. Leaves opposite, entire. Flowers showy, 

 opening only in sunshine. Sepals 4 8, usually 5. Petals indefi- 

 nite, colored, ia many rows. Stamens indefinite, distinct. Ovary 

 many-celled, many-seeded. Stigmas numerous. Capsule opening 

 by many teeth, presenting a radiate appearance. 



A cartons, and often very ornamental tribe of fleshy plants, native chiefly 

 of the Cane of Good Hope. The species of Mesembryanthcmum (Ice Plant, 

 fig Marigold), are examples. 



GROUP V. 

 ORDER XXIII. Malvaceae. 



Herbs, or shrubs, sometimes trees. Leaves alternate, stipu- 

 late. Flowers regular, axillary, often with an involucre at the 

 base of the calyx Sepals 5, somewhat united. Petals as many 

 as the sepals, alternate with them, hypogynons. Stamens nu- 

 merous, monadclphous, hypogynous, united to the petals at 

 base. Anthers uniform, 1-celled, bursting transversely. Pollen 

 hispid. Ovary 1, several-celled; or ovaries several, arranged 

 circularly round a common axis. Fruit a several-celled capsule, 

 or consisting of several separate, or separable 1 2 seeded carpels. 



ORDER XXIV. Tiliacese. 



Trees, or shrubby plants. Leaves alternate, stipulate, de- 

 ciduous. Sepals 4 5, deciduous. Petals 4 5, with 4 5 glands 



