2C0 



POLTPETALdTJS ORDERS. 



sliriobs. Leaves simple, alternate or opposite. Sepals 4 or 5, 

 imbricated. Petals 4:-5, witli a broad base, imbricate in sesti- 

 yation. Stamciis alternate with the petals ; anthers erect. Dish 

 large, flat, surrounding and adhering to i\iQ'Ovary^ which is 2-5- 

 celled. Fruit a capsule or berry. Seeds sometimes arillate, 

 albuminous ; emhryo straight. 



a. Properties : somewhat bitter and acrid, but of little importance in the arts. 

 Geneua. — Celastrus, Euonymus. 



441. Khamnaceje, the Buckthorn Triihe. — Trees or shriibs^ 

 often spiny. Leaves mostly alternate, simple. Flowers small. 

 Sepals 4 or 5, united at the base. Petals 4 or 5, inserted into 

 the orifice of the calyx, sometimes wanting. Stamens inserted 

 with, and opposite the petals. Ovary sometimes cohering with 

 the tube of the calyx ; ovules solitary, erect. Fruit a capsule, 

 berry-, or drupe. Seeds .erect ; emhryo straight. 



a. Properties : the herbage and bark are astringent and bitter. 

 Genera. — Zizyphus, Rhamnus, Ceanothus. 



442. YiTACE^, the Vine Trite. — Climbing shrubs. Leaves 



Flowers small, often 



Fig. 184. 



opposite, the upper ones alternate 

 polygamous or dioecious. Calyx 

 small, nearly entire. Petals 4 or 

 5, inserted upon the outside of the 

 disk, sometimes cohering by their 

 tips, and caducous. Stamens 5, 

 opposite the petals. Ovary 2-cell- 

 ed; ovules 2 in each cell, erect. 

 Fruit a berry. Seeds with a bony 

 testa ; emhryo small, in hard albu- 

 men. 



a. Properties: leaves acid, fruit like the 

 common grape. 



Genera. — Vitis, Ampelopsis. 



Fig. 1 8-4, «, Vitis vinifera ; b, a flower ; 

 c, the same casting its petals ; d, the pistil 

 and stamens ; e, section of a seed. 



443. PoLYGALACEiE, the Milh- 

 wort Tribe. — Herbs or shrubs. 

 Leaves simple, pedicels with 3 bracts. Flowers small, irregu 

 lar. Sepals 5, irregular. Petals 3, more or less united, the 

 anterior larger than the others. Stamens 6-8, combined in a 

 tube, which is split on the upper side. Ovary compound, 

 2-celled ; ovule solitary ; style curved. Fruit usually opening 

 through the valves. Seeds pendulous ; embi'yo straight, large, 

 in thin, fleshy albumen. 



a. Properties: the roots have a milky juice, the leaves are bitter. 

 Genera. — Polygala, Krameria. 



