ANGIOSPERM/E, DICOTYLEDON ES. 7G3 



and those of Sarcophytaceae on branched clavate axes. In Hydnoracese the cavity 

 of the ovary is occupied by numerous ridges which project from the walls and bear 

 the ovules; in Sarcophytaceae, Scybaliaceae, Cynomoriaceae, and Balanophoracetu the 

 placentation is parietal, and the number of the seeds is 3 in Sarcophytacoai, 2 in 

 Scybaliaceffi, 1-3 in Cynomoriaceae, and 1 in Balanophoraceae. In Hydnorace* and 

 Sarcophytaceffi there is no style, and the free upper extremities of the masses of 

 tissue which bear the ovules act as stigmas. The Cynomoriaceae and Balanophoraceae 

 have one, and the Scybaliaceae two, filiform styles with small papillose stigmas. In 

 Hydnoraceae the stamens are inserted between the lobes of the perianth, and form a 

 fleshy ring; in the other families they stand in front of the segments of the perianth; 

 in the Balanophorace^ the filaments are connate. Most of the Balanophoracca; live 

 in the tropical parts of Asia and America; a few species inhabit South Africa and 

 New Holland. Cynomorium coccineum, the only species of the Cynomoriaceae, 

 grows in the Mediterranean area and in Western Asia (see vol. i. p. 197, fig. 42). 

 Fossil remains are not known. The number of extant species hitherto discovered is 

 about 45. 



Sub-Class II.— MONOPETAL.^. 



Alliance XLVI. — Caprifoliales. 



Families: Ruhiaceoe, CaprifoliacecB 



Annual and perennial herbs, shrubs, and trees. The foliage-leaves are opposite, 

 stipules are present at their bases (see fig. 432 ^). The flowers are in cymes, 

 actinomorphic and zygomorphic, hermaphrodite and pseudo-hermaphrodite. The 

 floral-leaves are differentiated into calyx and corolla. The calyx is composed of 

 one 2-6-sepalous whorl. The calyx-tube clothes the inferior ovary, whilst the limb 

 consists of small green teeth. The corolla is a whorl of 3-6 connate petals (see tig. 

 432 2). The gynaeceum is composed of 2-5 connate carpels; ovary inferior, 2-5 

 locular. The placentas are axile. The androecium is a whorl of 3-6 stamens, 

 adnate to the corolla-tube. The pollen is either adhesive or powdery (see p. 265). 

 The fruit is a berry, drupe, schizocarp, or capsule. The seed contains endosperm. 



Most of the Rubiaceae are herbaceous, whilst the species of the other families 

 are mostly shrubby and arboreal plants. In the roots of several Rubiacea3 (e.g. 

 Ruhia tinctoruTn and Galium boreale) there is a red colouring matter (madder- 

 red); the Coffeaceae and Cinchonaceae contain alkaloids (caffeine, quinine, &c.); the 

 sweet-scented Woodruff" (Asperula odorata), the herb used to make the German 

 May- wine, is famous for the kumarin it contains. No laticiferous tubes or latex, 

 however, are contained in the tissues of any species belonging to this alliance. 

 The foliage-leaves are always opposite and in pairs, which are at right angles to 

 one another; the venation of the laminae is pinnate. In the Stella tas section of 

 Rubiaceae the stipules are of the same size, colour, and form as the laminae of the 

 opposite leaves to which they belong, and are inserted between them. The conse- 

 quence is that at each node there is a whorl of leaf-structures arranged in the form 



