DICOTYLEDONS : METACHLAMYDEAE 249 



superior, syncarpous, one-celled with a free-central 

 placenta. Fruit a capsule, splitting into five valves 

 (Fig. 169). 



The plants of this order are mostly perennials with 

 rhizomes or corms. The inflorescence is often a scape, 

 and in the Cowslip {Primula veris) the flowers are in a simple 

 umbel (Fig. 121, 2). In the Primrose (P. vulgaris) the 

 scape is very short and the flowers appear to arise singly 

 from the short stem (Fig. 121, 1). The flowers are often 



Fig. 169. Floral Diagram of Primrose. 



heterostyled (see p. 177) in Primula, Water Violet {Hot- 

 tonia palustris), and Sea Milkwort (Glaux maritima). The 

 five stamens are opposite the petals (antipetalous), and 

 the five outer stamens are suppressed. In the Brook-weed 

 (Samolus Valerandi) the outer whorl of stamens is repre- 

 sented by five staminodes. The petals of Cyclamen are 

 strongly reflexed. It is not easy to determine the five 

 carpels of the pistil, but the capsule usually splits into five 

 valves, and sometimes abnormal flowers produce five 

 leaves in place of the pistil. 



