254 



POLTPETALOTJS ORDEKS. 



combined at the base. Petcds indefinite, colored, sometimes 

 wanting. Stamens indefinite, distinct. Ovary many-celled ; 

 stigmas numerous. Fruit a many-celled, many-seeded capsule ; 

 emhryo curved or spiral on the outside of mealy albumen. 



Genera. — Mesembryanthemum, Sesuvium, 



421. Malvaceae, tlie Mallow Tribe. — Herbs ^ sTiriibs.^ or trees. 

 Leaves alternate, stipuled. Floicers regular, generally showy. 

 SejyaJs 5, more or less cohering at the base, with a valvate 

 cestivation, often bearing an external calyx or involucel. Petals 

 as many as the sepals, convolute in aestivation. Stamens indefi- 

 nite, monadeli^hous, inserted with the petals. Ovary formed 

 by the union of several carpels round a common axis, distinct 

 or cohering ; styles as many as the carpels. Fndt capsular or 

 baccate. Seeds with little albumen or none ; embryo large, 

 with foliaceous cotyledons, variously incmwed or folded. 



Fig. 179. 



a. Properties : plants of this order commonly 

 abound in mucilage ; they are destitute of all un- 

 wholesome quahties. The inner bark of some species 

 is employed for cordage ; cotton is the hairy cover- 

 ing of the seeds of Gossypium. 



Genera. — Malope, Malva, Lavatera, Althea, Hibis- 

 cus, Malvaviscus, Gossypium, Abutilon, Hopea, Nut- 

 tallia. 



Fig. 179, a, flower of a malvaceous plant; h, verti- 

 cal section of the staminal column and of the ovary ; 

 c, a side view of a detached carpeL 



422. Tillages, the .Linden Tribe. — 

 Trees or shrubby plants. Leaves alter- 

 nate, furnished with deciduous stipules. 

 Flowers small. Sejpals 4-5, with a valvate 

 aestivation, deciduous. Petals 4-5, some 

 times imbricate in sestivation. Stamens indefinite, often in 

 3-5 clusters distinct or somewhat united. Pish glandular. 

 Ovary solitary, formed by the union of 2-10 carpels. Fruit 

 dry or pulpy, 2-5-celled, or by obliteration 1-celled when ripe. 

 Seeds 1 or numerous ; emhryo erect, in the axis of fleshy albu- 

 men ; cotyledons fiat, leafy. 



a. Properties : these plants contain mucilage, and many of them furnish excellent 

 materials for cordage. 



Genera. — Tilia, Corchorus. 



423. TERNSTEOMiACEJi:, the Tea Tribe. — Trees or shrvhs., with 

 a watery juice. Leaves alternate, simple, without stipules. 

 Flowers large and showy. Sejpals 3-7, coriaceous, concave ; 

 aestivation imbricated. Petals 5 or more, imbricated. Stamens 

 indefinite, united in one or several parcels at the base ; anthers 

 versatile or adnate. Ovary with several cells. Fruit a capsule 

 opening by valves, or coriaceous and indehiscent. Seeds A^Qvf 



