UNN.EAN NATURAL SYSTEM. 189 



consisting of plants whose stamens are united in the 

 form of a column or pillar. Malva or mallow, althaea 

 or marsh-mallow, lavatera, gossypium or cotton, Ac. 



This order contains no disagreeable or hurtful plants, nor are any 

 esculent : none are foetid, but some agreeably fragrant. The roots 

 of all are fibrous ; stem often herbaceous. All have stipules in 

 pairs. The leaves are alternate, never opposite ; in numerous in- 

 stances stalked; plaited in the bud, and what is remarkable, many 

 of them have glandular pores under the rib. Inflorescence is various ; 

 calyx in some simple and five cleft ; in others, double ; petals gene- 

 rally five, often adhere to the united filaments, giving the flower a 

 monopetalons appearance ; the corolla somewhat abrupt and 

 twisted, contrary to the sun's motion ; pistils usually corresponding 

 in number to the parts of the fruit ; as do the stigmas, where the 

 style is simple. 



ORDER XXXVIII. TRICOCCA. 



39. Derived from two Greek words, the first signify- 

 ing three, and the second a grain ; it will therefore be 

 found to comprehend plants (usually) with a single three- 

 cornered capsule, having three cells each, all contain- 

 ing a single seed. Euphorbia or spurge, trewia and 

 others. 



The plants of this order bear alternate, mostly simple leaves, often 

 furnished with glands. Many afford a most acrid milk ; they are 

 generally offensive, nauseous, purgative or poisonous. The style is 

 in several highly remarkable, being more or less deeply three-cleft, 

 and each of its branches divided. The calyx as well as corolla, have 

 always something unusual in their formation, or in their nectary ; 

 and many of the genera are monrecious or dioecious. 



ORDER XXXIX. SILIQUOSJE. 



40. The plants of this order are of the class tetrady- 



