THE MONOPETALOUS ORDERS. 



453 



plants, with axillary and scape-like one-flowered peduncles. Ex. 

 Dichondra. 



848. Subord, CllSCUtineae, Ovary two-celled ; the capsule open- 

 ing by circumscissile dehiscence or bursting irregularly. Embryo 

 filiform, and spirally coiled in fleshy albumen, destitute of cotyle- 

 dons ! Parasitic, leafless, twining herbs, destitute of green color 

 (135). Stamens usually furnished with fringed scales within. 

 Ex. Cuscuta (Dodder). 



849. Ord, Solanaceft (the Nightshade Family) differs from Scroph- 

 ulariacese chiefly in the regular (rarely somewhat irregular) flow- 

 ers, with as many fertile stamens as there are lobes to the corolla 

 (four or five), and the plaited or valvate aestivation of the corolla. 

 Fruit either capsular or baccate. Embryo small, mostly curved, 

 in fleshy albumen. Ex. Solanum (Potato), Nicotiana. The fruit 

 of Datura is spuriously four-celled. Distinguished from Scrophu- 

 lariacese by their regular flowers and plaited aestivation. Stimu- 

 lant narcotic properties pervade the order, the herbage and fruits 

 of which are mostly deleterious, often violently poisonous, and 

 furnishing some of the most active medicines ; such as the To- 

 bacco, the Henbane (Hyoscyamus niger), the Belladonna (Atropa 



Belladonna), the Thorn-apple or Jamestown Weed (Datura Stra- 



FIG. 935. Flower of Tobacco (Nicotiana Tabacum). 936. The capsule, dehiscent at the 

 apex, with the persistent calyx. 937. Cross-section of the same. 938. Magnified section of 

 the seed of Solanum. 939. Flowers and berries of Solanum Dulcamara. 940. Flower of Hyos- 

 cyamus niger. 941. Fruit (pyxis, 616) of the same. 



