ARTIFICIAL KEY TO THE FAMILIES. xxxvii 



Sepals usually free ; if united below, then the petals 

 dissimilar (Resedaceae) ; or leaves opposite and simple 

 or imparipinnate ; or leaves alternate and paripin- 

 nate : 



Stamens more than 12 ; if fewer, then sepals 4 and 

 petals 4 with a 2-valved capsule or a berried fruit on 

 a long gynophore ; or sepals 2 with a central placenta ; 

 or the stamens attached to the base of the petals : 

 Sepals 2-3, deciduous : 



Petals more or less like the sepals, in 2-many 



more or less distinct 3-nate whorls ; carpels 



many in several whorls ; trees, shrubs or climbers 



III. MAGNOLIACEAE. 



Petals coloured, unlike the green sepals ; herbs : 

 Sepals 2 and petals 4, or sepals 3 and petals 6 ; 

 placentas parietal. Leaves alternate, more or 

 less lobed or cut ; sap milky or yellow 



VIII. PAPAVERACEAE. 



Sepals 2, petals 4-5 ; placentas free-central. 

 Leaves opposite or alternate, entire, sometimes 

 terete ; sap watery 



XVIII. PORTULACACEAE. 



Sepals 4 or more ; if 2-3, then trees with opposite 

 or 3-nate, leathery leaves and resinous juice : 

 Petals many in several whorls or in a continuous 

 spiral with the sepals ; aquatic plants with 

 submerged rootstock ....VII. NYMPHAEACEAE. 

 Petals usually 4-5, rarely 6-12, in 1, rarely 2 

 whorls ; or if petals many then terrestrial climbers 

 with the petals like staminodes and with opposite 

 cirrhiferous leaves : 



Petals all similar and entire : 

 Sepals deciduous : 



Carpels quite free when ripe ; ovule 1, 

 ascending or pendulous 



I. RANTJNCULACEAE. 



Carpels cohering in a 1-locular ovary with 

 parietal or intruded placentas ; ovules 

 2-many : 



Herbs ; or if shrubs or trees, then with 

 ovary and fruit borne on a long gyno- 

 phore ; sepals 4 ... XI .CAPPARIDACEAE. 



