II. SYNOPTICAL KEY TO THE ORDERS, &c. 



DIVISION I. POLYPETALJE. Petals distinct, or nearly so (sometimes wanting). 

 A. Stamens hypogynous (free both from the calyx and from the superior ovary). 



* Carpels solitary or distinct. 



+- Sepals and petals deciduous (rarely persistent in No. 1). Leaves alternate (opposite in climb- 

 ers), or radical : stipules none. 



1. Ranunculaceae, p. 2. Sepals (4 or more), petals (as many and alternate with them, when 



present), stamens (usually numerous), and carpels (1 to many) all distinct and free. 

 Fruit akenes or follicles (in Actcea a solitary berry). Mostly herbs. 



2. Berberidaceee, p. 14. Parts of the flower in threes, in opposite ranks, distinct (sepals and 



petals wanting in Achlys, and stamens 9). Carpel solitary (a berry in Berberis). An- 

 thers opening by valves. Perennial herbs or shrubs, with compound leaves. 



Carpels several, soon distinct, becoming linear torulose several-seeded pods. Sepals 3 : petals 6 : 

 stamens many. Annual ; leaves entire, mostly opposite. PLATYSTEMON in Papaveracea:. 



Carpel solitary, becoming a spinose pubescent 1 -seeded nut. Flowers irregular : sepals and pet- 

 als, 5 : stamens 4. Pubescent shrubs, with simple leaves. KRAMERIA in Polygalacew. 



-f- 4- Sepals persistent ; petals deciduous. 



Carpel solitary, becoming a globose drupe. Flowers 4-merous. Smooth shrub, with opposite 



entire pungent leaves. CNEORIDIUM in Rutacece. 

 Carpel solitary, becoming a few- to many-seeded 2-valved or indehiscent pod. Flowers 5-merous : 



stamens 10 or many. Small trees, with bipinnate leaves and small flowers in spikes or 



heads. MIMOSE^E in Leguminosce. 



Follicles several. Fleshy plants, with stamens nearly hypogynous. CRASSULACE.S;. 

 Follicles 2. Anthers attached to the stigma. Herbs ; leaves opposite, entire. ASCLEPIADACELS:. 



-t- +- +- Sepals and petals persistent. 



Carpels becoming indehiscent 1 - 2-seeded pods. Sepals and petals 3 or 4 : stamens many. Per- 

 ennial aquatic, with peltate leaves. BRASENIA in Nympkoeacece. 



* * Ovary compound, with parietal placentae or seeds covering the cell-walls. 

 +- Capsule many-celled, indehiscent. Sepals and petals persistent. 



3. Nymphaeaceae, p. 16. Parts of the flower indefinite, mostly numerous. Seeds numerous, 



covering the walls of the cells. Perennial aquatic, with cordate entire leaves and soli- 

 tary flowers. 



+- +- Valves separating from the persistent placentae. Sepals (2 or 4) and petals deciduous. 



H- Seeds albuminous. 



5. Papaveraceae, p. 18. Sepals 2 or 3, caducous : petals twice as many, alike : stamens nu- 



merous. Capsule 2 - several- valved, 1 -celled (several-celled in Romneya). Herbs (very 

 rarely shrubby), with mostly alternate leaves, no stipules, and often colored juice. 



6. Fumariaceae, p. 23. Flowers very irregular : sepals 2, small : petals 4, in dissimilar pairs : 



stamens 6, diadelphous. Pod 1 -celled, 2-valved, several - many-seeded. Perennial herbs, 

 with alternate dissected leaves and no stipules. 



H- -M- Seeds without albumen. Flowers regular. 



7. Cruciferae, p. 25. Sepals and petals 4 : stamens 6, tetradynamous (rarely 4, 2, or none). 



Pod 2-celled, 2-valved, 2 - many-seeded (rarely 1-celled and indehiscent). Herbs, with 

 alternate leaves and no stipules. 



8. Capparidaceee, p. 49. Sepals and petals 4 : stamens 6 or more, nearly equal. Pod 2-valved, 



1 - 2-celled, 1 - several-seeded. Mostly annual herbs (Isomeris shrubby), with alternate 

 compound leaves, often stipulate. 



