THE POLYPETALOUS ORDERS. 409 



than the rest. Stamens six to eight, combined in a tube, which is 

 split on the upper side, and united below with the claws of the pet- 

 als : anthers innate, mostly one-celled, opening by a pore at the 

 apex. Ovary compound, two-celled, with a single suspended 

 ovule in each cell : style curved and often hooded. Capsule flat- 

 tened. Seeds usually with a caruncle. Embryo straight, large, 

 in fleshy, thin albumen. Ex. Polygala, the type of the order, is 

 dispersed nearly throughout the world. A bitter principle per- 

 vades the order ; and many species also yield a peculiar acrid ex- 

 tractive matter. The Polygala Senega (Seneca Snakeroot) is the 

 most important medicinal plant of the family. Many other species 

 are employed medicinally in Brazil, Peru, Nepaul, &c. ; where, 

 like our own, they are reputed antidotes to the bites of venomous 

 reptiles. 



767. Ord, KrameriacefC (the Rhatany Family] consists of the genus 

 Krameria only, which has ordinarily been annexed to the Polyga- 

 lacese ; but it is much nearer the Leguminosse, having the odd 

 sepal inferior, a simple unilocular pistil, and an exalbuminous 

 seed. In fact, it is only distinguishable from the latter by the hy- 

 pogynous stamens and the want of stipules. The roots contain a 

 red coloring matter, and are astringent without bitterness. Rhat- 

 any-root, used to adulterate port-wine, and as an ingredient in 

 tooth-powders, &c., is the produce of Krameria triandra of Peru. 

 That of our own Southern K. lanceolata possesses the same prop- 

 erties. 



768. Ord, leguminosffi (the Pulse Family}. Herbs, shrubs, or 

 trees, with alternate and usually compound leaves, furnished with 

 stipules. Calyx mostly of five sepals, more or less united ; the 

 odd sepal inferior (Fig. 382). Corolla of five petals, either papil- 

 ionaceous or regular. Stamens perigynous, or sometimes hypogy- 

 nous. Ovary single and simple. Fruit a legume, various forms 

 of which are shown in Fig. 438-446. Seeds destitute of albu- 

 men. This immense family is divided into three principal sub- 

 orders ; namely : 



769. Subord, PapilionaceSB (the Proper Pulse Family] ; which has 

 the papilionaceous flower, already illustrated (468, Fig. 317-321), 

 ten stamens (or rarely fewer), which are diadelphous (Fig. 308), 

 sometimes monadelphous (Fig. 307,324), or rarely distinct (Fig. 

 322), inserted into the base of the calyx. Radicle bent on the 

 large cotyledons. Leaves only once compound, the leaflets entire. 



35 



