OF THE SOUTH AFHICAN FLORA. xKii 



CONSPECTUS OF THE OEDERS. 



Class I. DICOTYLEDONES. 

 Subclass I. Angiosperme^. — Ovules enclosed in an ovary, 

 and seeds in a seed-vessel. 



aROUP I. POLYPETALE^. 



Perianth consisting of both caljx and corolla, the latter of distinct petals. 

 (The exceptions ai'c very numerous ; for in all the large Orders, genera 

 occur that want calyx or corolla, or both, and iu some the petals cohere or 

 are united into a monopetalous corolla.) 



Series I. Thalamiflorse. — Sepals distinct, usually herbaceous, inferior. 

 Stamens inserted usually immediately under the ovary, i-arely on a lobed or 

 expanded disk, free from the calyx, very rarely on the base of the petals. 

 Ovary very rarely inferior. 



Cohort I. E-ANALES. — Stamens very numerous (few, and opposite the petals 

 in Menispermacece) . Carpels distinct or immersed in a fleshy torus in 

 Nymphaaeece. Embryo small, in fleshy or mealy albumen. — Herbs, 

 rarely shrubs or trees. 

 Order 1. Eanunculacece (p. 1). All herbaceous but Clematis. 



„ 2. AnonacecB (p. 2) | j,^^^^^.^ ^^^^^^ 3. ^^, g.^grous. 



„ 3. Menispermacece (p. 3). 3 •' 



„ 4. Nymjphceacece (p. 4). All aquatics. 



Cohort II. Partetales. — Stamens definite or indefinite. Ovary 1-celled, 

 with parietal placentation, rarely (as in Cruc'iferce) divided into 2 cells 

 by a membranous expansion of the placenta. 



Order 5. Papaverace<B{v.^). ) ^^^^^^ q^^^^,^ ^^,^ ^^^^^^ ^^^^^^ 



„ 6. FumariacecB (p. 5). ) "^ 



„ 7. CruclfercB (p. 6). Herbs, all with alternate exstipulate leaves. 



„ 8. Capparidece (p. 11). 



„ 9. ResedacecB (p. 13). 



„ 10. Bixacece {^.1%). Has equal affinity with Cohort 13, Passj^oraZe^. 



„ 11. Violariece (p. 17). 



„ 12. Droseracece (p. 17)% More closely allied to 44, Saxifragece. 



Cohort III. POLYGALINEJE. — Flowcrs regular or irregular. Sepals and 

 petals each 5, rarely 3 or 4. Stamens 5 or 10. Ovary 2-celled, usually 

 of 2 carpels ; ovules numerous, horizontal or pendulous and solitary. 

 Albumen fleshy, rarely absent. 



Order 13. Poli/galece (p. 18). Flowers very irregular. 

 „ 1^. Pittosporece {^.\^). Flowers regular. 



Cohort IV. Cartopiiylline^. — Flowers regular. Sepals 2-5, free, rarely 

 united. Petals as many, connate at the base in some Portulacece. Sta- 

 mens as many as the petals, alternate with them. Ovary 1-celled ; ovules 

 attached to a free basal placenta. Embryo usually curved round mealy 

 albumen. — Chiefly herbs. 



Order 15. Frankeniacece (p. 20). Embryo straight. 

 „ 16. Caryophyllacece (p. 20). 



