CONSPECTUS OF THE ORDERS. xiii 



CXVI. Laukinej:. Perianth -lobes 6 or 8, 2-seiiate, imbricate. Stamens 

 typically in 4 whorls, one whorl often reduced to staminodes j anthers dehiscing by 

 valves from below upwards. Ovary superior, 1 -celled, sometimes enclosed in the 

 receptacle; ovule solitary, pendulous. Radicle superior. Trees or shrubs, very 

 rarely {Cassytha) twining parasitic herbs. Leaves alternate, in Cassytha reduced to 

 small scales. 



CXVIa. Hernandiace^. Perianth-lobes 4-10, 2-seriate, valvate or imbricate. 

 Stamens 3-7; anthers dehiscing by valves; staminodes usually present. Ovary 

 inferior, 1 -celled; ovule solitary, pendulous. Radicle superior. Trees or shrubs, 

 sometimes climbing. Leaves alternate. 



CXVII. Proteace^. Perianth-lobes 4, 1-seriate, valvate. Stamens as many 

 as the perianth-lobes and opposite them; anthers dehiscing longitudinally. Ovary 

 sujuerior, 1-celled; ovule solitary and laterally attached in the Tropical African 

 genera. Radicle lateral. Shrubs or tree?, rarely perennial herbs. Leaves alternate, 

 raiely opposite or verticillate. 



CXVIII. TiiymeljeacEjE. Perianth-lobes 4-5, 2-seriate, imbricate. Stamens 

 perigynous, as many or twice as many as the perianth-lobes; anthers dehiscing 

 longitudinally. Ovary superior, 1-4 -celled ; ovule solitary in each cell, pendulous. 

 Radicle superior. Trees or shrubs, rarely slender annual herbs, with tough fibrous 

 bark, often heath-like. Leaves opposite or alternate. 



Series VX. — Achlamydosporeae. Ovary usually inferioTy 1-celled ; ovules 

 1-3, usually not evident hef ore flowering. Seeds.xoithout a testUy sometimes adhering 

 to the pericarp. Perianth sometimes coloured, 



CXIX. Loraiithace^. Green shrubs, more rarely herbs, parasitic. Ovule 

 solitary, erect. 



CXX. Santalaceje. Herbs, shrubs or trees, often parasitic. Ovules 2-4, 

 pendulous from a free-central placenta. 



CXXI. Balanophore^. Fleshy herbs parasitic on roots, without chlorophyll 

 but usually brightly coloured. Leaves reduced to scales. 



Series VZZ. — Unlsexnales. Flowers unisexual. Ovary syncarpous or 

 monocarpous ; styles as many as the carpels, often bipartite ; ovules solitary or 2 

 collateral. Seed albuminous or exalbuminous. Herbs, shrubs or trees. Perianth 

 calycine, small or none ; petals present in some Euphorbiaceoe. 



CXXII. EuPHORBiACE^. Inflorescence, perianth and stamens very variable. 

 Ovary 2-3- (rarely many-) celled, rarely of 1 carpel. Fruit usually breaking into 

 2-valved cocci (winged in Hymenocardia), sometimes drupaceous or nut-like. 

 Albumen U'^nally copious and fleshy, sometimes thin or none ; radicle superior. Herbs 

 shrubs or uces, often with milky juice, sometimes cactus-like. 



