782 



THE SUBDIVISIONS OF THE VEGETABLE KINGDOM. 



each, and spring from the fleshy annular or tubular hypanthium which rises up 

 above the ovary. The fruit is baccate, drupaceous, or capsular. 



The GranatacesB and Onagracese contain watery juices, whilst the species belong- 

 ing to the other families are more or less rich in aromatic substances and etherial 

 oils. Several are used as spices. Allspice is derived from Pimenta ojfficinalis, and 

 cloves are prepared from the flower-buds of Eugenia caryopJiyllata. The CiiceeEe 

 are small and delicate herbs, the Chamgelauceae are dwarf shrubs; whilst the genus 

 Eucalyptus of the family Myrtacese includes several species which are amongst the 

 highest trees in the world (see vol. i. p. 723). The flower in CirccBa exhibits two 

 sepals, two petals, and two stamens in order (see fig. 261 ^ p. 236). In (Enothera 

 and Epilohium the calyx and the corolla are composed of one 4-partite whorl each, 

 and the androecium of 2 such whorls (see fig. 281, p. 282, and fig. 800, p. 354). In 

 Eucalyptus. Myrtus, and many other genera the number of stamens amounts to over 





Myrtales. 



I Calothamnus. Longitudinal section through the flower, ^flower-bud of Eucalyptus globulus, the connate sepals are detached 

 from the receptacle as a lid when the bud opens. 3 Fruit of Eucalyptus globulus. (After Baillon.) 



100; in Calothamnus (see fig. 284*, p. 292) the stamens are coherent in bunches. ^Yhorl■ 

 the petals are suppressed, the filiform filaments are white or bright red and yellow. 

 In the Fuchsias the sepals are coloured like petals; in some species of the genus 

 Eucalyptus the sepals, which are joined together so as to form a lid, become detached 

 from the floral receptacle before the flower opens. This remarkable phenomenon 

 is shown in fig. 4391 The hypanthium which invests the ovary exhibits every 

 possible transition in form, from a shallow saucer to a long tube (see fig. 266, p. 247). 

 The ovary is in several families divided by septa, composed of tissue pertaining to 

 the receptacle, which extend from the central column to the wall of the ovary. In 

 Granatacese (Punica Granatura) the ovary is in addition divided by a plate of tissue 

 into an upper and a lower story, and placentas are developed in the chambers of 

 both stories. The fruits of several Lecythidaceae, e.g. those of Lecythis, open with a 

 lid; those of Eucalyptus are in the form of hard woody capsules, which dehisce at 

 the top by means of valves, pores, or slits (see fig. 439^). The fruits of Circcea are 

 indehiscent; those of Epilobium, &c., are capsular, and open by valves. Many 

 Myrtaceae and the Fuchsias have baccate fruits. The fruit of the Pomegranate 

 (Punica Granatwm) resembles an apple. The seeds of Bertholletia excelsa of the 

 family Lecythidaceae are known as Brazil nuts, and have a coat as hard as stone; 



