264 



POLYPETALOUS ORDERS. 



ing liairs. Leaves opposite or alternate, exstipulate. Calyx- 

 tube adherent to the ovary ; I'lmh mostly 5-partecl. Petals the 

 same number, or twice as many as the lobes of the calyx. Sta- 

 meiis perigynous, in several rows, distinct or polyadelphous. 

 Ovary 1-cVlled, with parietal placentas ; style single. Fndt 

 capsular or succulent. Seeds few, or numerous ; eirihTyo straight, 

 in the axis of fleshy albumen. 



a. Properties : chiefly distinguished for their hair-like stings. 

 Gkxus. — Meutzcha, Bartonia. 



45 G. Passiflorace^, the Passion-flower Tribe. — Herbs or 

 shriibs^ climbing by tendrils. Leaves alternate, mostly stipu- 

 late. Sejxds 5, iinited below. Petals 5, with a filamentous 

 crown. Stamens 5, monadelphous ; anthers versatile, extrorse. 

 Ovary 1-celled ; styles 3 ; stigmas dilated. Fruit mostly fleshy, 

 or berry-like. Seeds numerous ; testa brittle, arilled ; embryo 

 straight, inclosed in thin, fleshy albumen. 



a. Properties : many of the plants yield edible fruits, while others are bitter, 

 astringent, and narcotic. 

 Genus. — Passiflora. 



457. PAPAYACEiE, the Papaw Trihe. — Trees or shrxdys^ some- 

 times yielding an acrid milky juice. Leaves alternate, lobed. 

 Cahjx 5-toothed, minute. Corolla monopetalous, 5-lobed. Sta- 

 mens 10, inserted on the throat of the corolla ; anthers introrse. 

 Ovary free, 1-celled ; stigma 5-lobed. Fruit succulent or cap- 

 sular, 1-celled, with parietal placentae. Seeds enveloped in a 

 loose mucous coat ; embryo in the axis of fleshy albumen. 



Gents. — Carica. 



458. . Cucurbit ACE^, the Gourd Tribe. — Juicy herbs ^ climbing 

 by tendrils. Leaves alternate, palmate, rough. Flowers mo- 

 ncecious or dioecious. Sepcds 4 or 5, united in a tube. Petals 

 as many as the sepals, distinct, or more or less united, cohering 

 with the calyx. Stamens 5, attached to the petals, distinct or 

 variously united ; anthers sinuous. Ovary adhering to the 

 calyx, 1-celled, with 3 parietal placentge, which often project 

 into the cavity, uniting iii a 

 central column ; stigmas thick, 

 velvety or fringed. Fruit a 

 fleshy pepo, with a hard rind, 

 and crowned by the scar of the 

 calyx. Seeds flat, exalbuminous ; 

 emhryo straight ; cotyledons foli- 

 aceous. 



a. Properties : an acrid principle abounds ; 

 when this is diffused the fruits are edible, 

 but when concentrated, they are poison- 

 ous. 



