Balsaminaceae, Rhamnaceae 67 



Fam. 8. Balsaminaceae. Herbs or shrubs. Leaves 

 opposite or alternate. Flowers always hermaphrodite. 

 Sepals usually 3 (2 anterior, if present, minute), posterior 

 spurred. Petals primitively 5, anterior large, external in 

 \i\xdi, lateral di^di posterior covwi-dX^ on each side so that there 

 are apparently only three petals. Stamens 5, filaments 

 short, anthers cohering. Carpels (5) each with co ovules. 

 Capsule loculicidal, opening elastically, rarely indehiscent. 

 Seeds 00 . Endosperm absent. 



Only British genus (capsule opening elastically) : 



Impatiens. 



Order 16. Rhamnales. Flowers cyclic, diplo- 

 chlamydeous, sometimes apopetalous. Stamens in one 

 whorl opposite the petals. Carpels (5-2) each with 1-2 

 ascending ovules, with dorsal, lateral or ventral raphe 

 and two integuments. 



Fam. Rhamnaceae. Stems usually woody, rarely 

 herbaceous, often climbing. Leaves simple, often 3-5- 

 nerved. Stipules small. Flowers small, greenish or 

 yellowish, often in axillary cymes, 5-4-merous, peri- 

 gynous or epigynous. Calyx lobes triangular, valvate. 

 Petals small, often clawed and hooded and enclosing 

 the stamens, or absent. Stamens inserted on calyx tube 

 at edge of disc. Carpels (5-2). Fruit various, often a 

 drupe. Seeds mostly with endosperm. 



Tribe Rhamneae. Serial buds not present (as in 

 Colletid). Ovary superior or inferior. 



Only British genus (disc lining the calyx tube): 



Rhamnus. 



Order 17. MalvaleS. Flowers c}'clic {androccium 

 not always so), heterochlamydeous, hermaphrodite, rarely 



5—2 



