418 TUKNERACE.E. 



of petals, occasionally wanting, imbricated in aestivation. Stamens 5, 

 monadelphous, surrounding the gynophore when present, rarely oc , 

 usually with processes from the thalamus, interposed between them 

 and the petals; anthers dithecal, extrorse, versatile, dehiscing longi- 

 tudinally; pollen-grains sometimes bursting by opercula (fig. 354). 

 Ovary 1-celled, often with a gynophore (^[ 437); ovules anatropal, oc ; 

 styles 3 ; stigmas dilated. Fruit often stipitate, 1-celled, sometimes 

 3-valved, opening by loculicidal dehiscence, or succulent and indehis- 

 cent. Seeds <x> , attached to parietal placentas, arillate, or strophiolate ; 

 spermoderm brittle and sculptured ; embryo straight in the midst of 

 thin fleshy albumen ; radicle pointing to the hilum. Herbs or shrubs, 

 often climbing, with alternate, stipulate or exstipulate leaves. The 

 order has been divided into three suborders: 1. Paropsieae, plants 

 not climbing, with a sessile ovary, arillate seeds, and exstipulate leaves. 

 2. Passiflorese, climbing plants with a stalked ovary, arillate seeds, 

 stipulate leaves, and glandular petioles. 3. Malesherbiese, plants not 

 climbing, with a stalked ovary, style below the apex of the ovary, 

 strophiolate seeds, and exstipulate leaves. They are natives chiefly of 

 warm climates, and are found in America, the East and West Indies. 

 There are 14 known genera, and 215 species. Examples Paropsia, 

 Smeathmannia, Passiflora, Tacsonia, Malesherbia. 



876. Considerable discussion has taken place as to the true nature 

 of the calyx and corolla in Passifloracese. Lindley supports the view 

 here given. Others consider the calyx as consisting of ten sepals in 

 two rows, the inner more or less petaloid, and they look on the petals as 

 either wanting, or existing in the form of filamentous or annular pro- 

 cesses. The name Passion-flower was given on account of a fancied 

 resemblance in the flowers to the appearances presented at Calvary. 

 In the five anthers the superstitious monks saw a resemblance to the 

 wounds of Christ; in the triple style, the three nails on the cross; in the 

 central gynophore, the pillar of the cross; and in the filamentous pro- 

 cesses, the rays of light round the Saviour, or the crown of thorns. 

 Many of the plants, such as Passiflora quadrangularis and edulis, 

 Grenadillas, yield edible fruits, the pulp or succulent arillus being 

 fragrant and cooling. Others are bitter and astringent, and some are 

 said to be narcotic. 



877. Order 87. Tumeraceae, the Turnera Family. (Polypet. 

 Perigyn.) Calyx with 5 equal lobes ; aestivation imbricated. Petals 

 5, perigynous, equal; aestivation twisted. Stamens 5, perigynous, 

 alternating with the petals; filaments distinct; anthers dithecal, innate, 

 oblong. Ovary free, 1-celled, with 3 parietal placentas ; ovules oo , 

 anatropal ; styles more or less cohering, or forked ; stigmas multifid. 

 Fruit a 1-celled, 3-valved capsule, dehiscing only half-way down, in a 

 loculicidal manner. Seeds crustaceous, reticulated, arillate on one 

 side ; embryo slightly curved, in the midst of fleshy albumen ; cotyle- 



