NATURAL ORDERS. 271 



Leaves alternate or opposite, coriaceous. Sepals 4-6, psstiva- 

 tion imbricated. Corolla 4-6-parted. Stam^iis inserted upon 

 the corolla equal in number to its segments and alternate with 

 them ; filaments erect ; aiitliers adnate. Ovary 2-6-celled •, 

 ovules solitary, pendulous. Fruit drupaceous, with 2-6 stoncB 

 or nucules. Seed suspended ; albumen hard ; emlryo minute. 



a. Properties : astringent and tonic. 

 Genera. — Ilex, Priiios, Nemopanthes. 



477. Ebenace^, the Ebony Tribe. — Trees or shrubs without 

 milk. Leases alternate, entire, coriaceous. Inflorescence axil- 

 lary ; flowers polygamous. Calyx in 3 to 



6 divisions. Corolla 3-6-cleft, often pu- Fig. 195.- 



bescent. Stamens inserted on the corolla, 

 twice or four times as many as its seg- 

 ments. Ovary sessile, several-celled ; style 

 divided ; stigmas bifid or simple. Fruit a 

 kind of berry. Seeds large and bony ; albu- 

 men white and cartilaginous ; embryo short. 



a. Properties : fruit edible "when fuUy ripe ; the 

 bark is powerfully astringent. 



Genus. — Diospyros. 



Fig. 195. Diospyros virginiana : a, the persistent 

 calyx ; 6, the fruit, which is a yellow berry. 



478. Styracace^, the Storax Tribe. — T7'ees or shrubs. Leaves 

 alternate. Flowers axillary. Calyx persistent. Corolla reg- 

 ular, inserted in the calyx. Stamens more or less united. Ovary 

 cohering more or less w4th the tube of the calyx. Fruit drupa- 

 ceous, inclosed in the calyx. Seeds usually solitary, erect, or 

 suspended ; embryo slender, in the axis of fleshy albumen. 



a. Properties : stimulant, aromatic, and fragrant. 

 Genera. — Styrax, Halesia. 



479. LYsiMACHiiE or Primulaceje, the Primrose Trihe. — 

 Herbs. Leaves usually radical, otherwise opposite, whorled, or 

 alternate. Calyx 4 or 5 cleft, persistent. Corolla regular, usually 

 5-cleft. Stamens inserted on the corolla, equal in number to 

 its lobes and opposite them. Ovmy 1-celled ; style 1 ; stigma 

 capitate. Fruit capsular, placenta central, distinct. Seeds 

 numerous, albuminous ; embryo transverse. 



a. Properties : of little importance except for their beauty ; they are cultivated 

 as showy garden annuals, or perennials. 



Genera. — Androsace, Primula, Dodecatheon, Glaux, Lysimachia, Trientalis, Ana- 

 gallis, Hottonia, Samolus. 



480. Plantaginace^, the Plantain Tribe. — Herbaceous 

 plants, often stemless. Leaves radical, ribbed. Ccdyx 4-parted, 

 persistent. Corolla tubular or m-n-shaped, scarious and persist- 

 ent ; the limb 4-cleft. Stamens 4, inserted on the corolla, al- 



