THE POLYPETALOUS ORDERS. 



407 



leaves of Ceanothus Americanus (thence called New Jersey Tea) 

 has been used as a substitute for tea. 



764. Ol'd. StaphyleaceflB (the Bladder-nut Family), consisting chief- 

 ly of Staphylea, is intermediate between the order Sapindacese, 

 from which it differs in its more symmetrical flowers and straight 

 embryo in fleshy albumen, and the order Celastraceee, from which 

 the compound leaves, partly separate pistils, and bony seeds distin- 

 guish it. 



765. Ord, VitaceSB (the Vine Family). Shrubby plants climbing 

 by tendrils, with simple or compound leaves, the upper alternate. 

 Flowers small, often polygamous or dioecious. Calyx very small, 



entire or four- or five-toothed, lined with a disk. Petals four or 



FIG. 663. A branch of the Grape ; showing the nature of the tendrils. 664. A flower; the 

 petals separating from the base, and falling off together without expanding. 665. A flower 

 from which the petals have fallen; the lobes of the disk seen alternate with the stamens. 

 666. Vertical section through the ovary and the base of the flower: a, calyx, the limb of which 

 is a mere rim: 6, petal; having the stamen, c, directly before it; and the lobes of the disk 

 are shown between this and the ovary. 667. A seed. 668. Section of the seed ; showing the 

 thick crustaceous testa, and the albumen, at the base of which is the minute embryo. 669. A 

 horizontal plan of the flower. 



