378 



D1COTYLEDONES. 



number 2 is seldom met with. Most orders have a double 

 perianth ; chorisis does not occur, suppression is rare, and the parts 

 of the flower are developed in acropetal succession. The most 

 characteristic feature in the order is the free, one-leaved, as a rule 

 numerous carpels (apocarpous gynoeceum). The number of carpels 

 in some of the last mentioned orders dwindles down to 1 (e.g. the 

 Berlieridese and Myristicacese) . The carpels in Nymphseacete become 

 united into one pistil (syncarpous), a condition which we also find 

 distributed among the other orders. 



Endosperm occurs in almost all the orders (except e.g. Lauracese). 

 The nutritive tissue in Cdbombese and Nymphseese is chiefly peri- 

 sperm. 



Order 1. Ranunculacese. Nearly all are herbs (except 

 Clematis'). The leaves are scattered (except Clematideas), they 

 have a large sheath with broad base (no stipules), and are most 



FIG. 370. Diagram 

 of Aquilegia vulgaris: 

 sp spur. A cyclic 

 flower. 



FIG. 371. Diagram of a dichasium 

 of Rununculus acer : a lt a 1 , and j8 x , 

 /3 1 , bracteoles (the buds in the axils 

 of the bracteoles, a and a 1 , are con- 

 tin tied antidromously). The flower 

 has cyclic calyx and corolla, but 

 acyclic (&) stamens. 



Fio.372. Diagram of an 

 acyclic Ranunculaceous 

 flower (only 3 stamens are 

 indicated). The spiral of 

 the sepals has a diver- 

 gence of | ; that of the 

 corolla and subsequent 



frequently palminerved with palmate lobes. The flowers are 

 hypogynous, with most frequently a well pronounced convex re- 

 ceptacle (Figs. 374 JB, 380), J , regular (except Delphinium and 

 Aconitum') ; their structure varies very much ; in some the leaves 

 are verticillate, in others arranged spirally ; in others, again, both 

 modes of arrangement are found. It is a characteristic feature 

 that the various series of leaves (especially calyx and corolla) are 

 not so distinct or so sharply divided as is usual. The leaves of the 

 perianth are free, imbricate (except Clematideas) ; stamens numerous, 

 with most frequently extrorse anthers ; gynoeceum free, apocarpous 

 (except Nigella and partly Helleborus) , with 1 or several ovules 

 (Figs. 373, 378, 379) borne on the ventral suture. The fruit is 



