382 PLANT STUDIES 



sympetalous, the stamens usually being borne upon its 

 tube. 



Among the numerous families the following are promi- 

 nent : the heaths, mostly shrubs of temperate and arctic or 

 alpine regions ; the convolvulus alliance, with corolla in the 

 form of conspicuous tubes, funnels, trumpets, etc. ; the 

 aromatic mint family, with more than ten thousand species, 

 and its allies the nightshades, the figworts, and the ver- 

 benas ; and, last and highest, the family of composites, the 

 greatest and ranking family of Angiosperms, estimated to 

 contain at least twelve thousand species, more than one 

 seventh of all known Dicotyledons, and more than one 

 tenth of all Seed-plants. Not only is it the greatest family, 

 but it is the youngest. Composites are distributed every- 

 where, but are most numerous in temperate regions, and 

 are mostly herbs. 



