430 DICOTYLEDONES. 



vulgaris and borealis) and Gossypium. The seeds contain a large quantity of fa tty 

 oil, which is in some cases extracted (Cotton-seeds and others). The seed-hairs 

 of the Cotton plant are the most important product of the order. The cultivated 

 forms of Cotton belong to several species : G. barbadense, herbaceum, religiosum, 

 arboreum (Nankin), hirsutum, and others. According to other botanists, there 

 are only 3 species. Bast is obtained from e.g. Hibiscus cannabinus (Gambo-herap, 

 Africa), Paritium tiliaceum and Sida retusa. The fruits of certain species of 

 Hibiscus (e.g. H. esculentua, from Tropical Africa) are used in tropical countries 

 as a vegetable before they are ripe. The colouring matter in the flowers of 

 Altlicca rosea, var. nigra, is used for colouring wines, and hence is extensively 

 cultivated in certain parts of Europe. Ethereal oils and siveet-scented .floiver* 

 are rare ; but several species possess a peculiar musk-like odour (Malva moschata, 

 Hibiscus abelmoschus, and others). Many are cultivated as ornamental plant* 

 on account of the large flowers, e.g. Hollyhock (A. roaea, etc.), Laratera 

 trimestris, Malope grandiflora and trifida, Malca-species, Hibiscus rosa ttinentit) 

 syriaca ; Sphceralcea, etc. 



Family 14. Tricoccae. 



The very large order Euphorbiacece and three smaller ones 

 belong to this family. They have in common : unisexual, hypo- 

 gynous, frequently regular flowers, the perianth most frequently 

 single, rarely double, or entirely wanting ; there is such a great 

 variety in the structure and parts of the flower that one only can 

 be cited as the rule : viz. the simple gynceceum composed of 3 

 carpels forming a 3-locular ovary, which is frequently more or less 

 deeply grooved (hence the name, Tricoccce} ; in the inner angles 

 of the loculi are found 1 or 2 (never several) pendulous (except 

 Empetracece) , anatropous ovules, with upward and outwardly turned, 

 frequently swollen, micropyle (Fig. 455). The seed most frequently 

 has a large endosperm and a straight embryo (Figs. 455 B, 464). 

 The family approaches the nearest to the Gruinales and Columniferae ; it may 

 perhaps be regarded as an offshoot from the Sterculiaceae. 



Order 1. Euphorbiacese. Flowers unisexual. In each of 

 the loculi of the ovary, generally 3, there are 1 or 2 pendulous 

 ovules with upward and outwardly turned micropyle. The placenta 

 protudes above the ovules (Figs. 454, 461 13). On the ripening 

 of the capsule the 3 carpels separate septicidally, frequently with 

 great violence, ejecting the seeds and leaving a central column. 

 Endosperm copious. For the rest, the flowers present all stages, 

 from genera with calyx and corolla, to those which are the most 

 reduped in Nature, namely the naked, 1-stamened flowers of 

 Euphorbia. 



The same variety which is found in the flower is also present in 



