Guttiferae 69 



f. Flowers spirocyclic or of 5-4 whorls. Syncarpy the rule 

 {Apocarpy in the more primitive^ exotic families). Tendency for 

 gynaeciiim to become sunk in flower-axis. (For h see page 61, 

 for ^ see page 71.) 



Order 18. ParietaleS. F/^zf^r^ spirocyclic or cyclic 

 often with indefinite number of staniois and carpels, 

 heterochlamydeous, rarely apopetalous, hypogynous or 

 epigynous. Carpels more or less united often with 

 parietal placentae^ which, however, may meet in the 

 middle. Ovules very seldom basal. 



The suborders of Parietales may stand in phylogenetic relation- 

 ship to some of the earlier orders, particularly Ranales and 

 Rhoeadales. Suborder Flacourtiineae (see page 71) shows pos- 

 sible affinities with Cucurbitaceae. Yet the Cucurbitaceae possess 

 so many important peculiarities that they cannot have been derived 

 directly from the Flacourtiineae. 



Suborder I. THElNEAEf. Stamens o{X.^n ^ . Gyn- 

 aeciiini free, on convex or flat flower-axis. Placentation 

 often axile. Endosperm containing oil and proteid grains. 



Fam. I. Guttiferae. Trees or shrubs, more rarel)' 

 herbs (most British species are herbaceous). Leaves 

 opposite, entire, usually exstipulate, often with pellucid 

 glands. K and C often 5, sepals imbricate.. Stamens 

 often 00 and united in bundles. Carpels (3-5) with 00 -i 

 ovules with two integuments. Placentation parietal or 

 axile. Seeds without endosperm. 



Subfamily Hypericoideae. Stamens co in 2-5 

 bundles. 5/;^/^^ usually free. i^r/^zV a capsule, berry or drupe. 



Tribe Hypericeae. Herbs and shrubs. Ovary often 

 3-5-loc. Capsule septicidal. 



Only British genus (petals 5, unequal-sided) : 



Hypericum. 

 t Cf Guttiferales oi V>tT\\h^m and Hooker. 



