2S 



A SYNOPSIS OF THE PLANT KINGDOM 



valvato: st;uiions 4-10, often ailnato to tho iHriaiitli 

 or connato; disk present, diverse: earpels 3, rarely '2-rt; 

 ovary superior, 1-eellM, rarely falsely S-ri-eelled; 

 ovule 1; style 1: fruit usually a drupe inelosed in the 

 accrescent iUid persistent perianth; seini albuminous. 



Olacacea- has 'Jo genera mid about 111) spc-cies of 

 tropical liistribution. two of which reach southern 

 Florida. Olax is the largest genus. The Olacacea' arc 

 relatcti to the Lorauthacea- luid Santalaccic. 



18. Aju8T0IX)CH1ace.e; 1. Asarum, a, flower; b, floral diagram. 

 2. Arislolochia. flower. PoLyao.NACE.E: 3. Fagopyrum, «, flower; 

 b, floral diagram. 4. PolyRonum, sheathing stipule. 5. Rurnex, 

 fruiting calyx. C'henopodiace.e: G. Chenopodium, a, flower; 6, 

 fruit. Amabant.\ce,E'. 7. Amarantus, a, fruit; 6, vertical section 

 seed. 8. Achyrantbes, flower. 



The family is of little economic importance. Some 

 Bpecies are valuable for tlicir hard timber. The drupes 

 of Ximenia are eaten in Senegal. Olax zeylanica has a 

 fetid wood, used locally for fevers. 



One sp<?cies, Ximenia lum-ricana (liog plum) is 

 native in Florida and the tropics, and is of moderate 

 value for the fruit. 



Order. 31. Aristolochiai.e.s 



6.3. Aristolochiaceae (from the genus Arislolochia, 

 in reference to its supposed medicinal properties in 

 connection with child-birth). BiRTiiwonT or Dutch- 

 MA.v's Pipe Fa.mii.y. Fig. 18. Herbs or woody plants, 

 the latter mostly twining: leaves alternate, usually 

 broad and entire: flowers bisexual, epigynous, regular 

 or irregular; perianth of one series, the parts mostly 3, 

 connate, often petaloid, very diverse, sometimes regu- 

 lar with the parts nearly separate, sf)metimcs with a 

 long tube which is swollen below, abruptly curvctl 

 above, and with an abruptly spreading entire border; 

 gtamen.s 0-3(1, separate and inserted on the ovary, or 

 unitwJ with the style; ovary inferior, rarely superior, 1- 

 or 6-, rarely .5-, celled; ovules many; style 1; stigmas 

 4 or 6: fruit a capsule. 



Five genera and about 210 species arc known, 180 

 8pf!f;ifSi of which belong to Aristolochia. . They are dis- 

 tribute^l in the warm parts of the earth, but are most 

 numeroti-s in .South America. Seven or 8 species are 

 native in northeaatem Xorth America. The family is 



not detinilt'ly relalcd to any other, but is |)laced pro- 

 visioniilly \u\\v the Polygoiiace;c, not however because 

 related to that fatnily, but because eciuidly simple in 

 si ruci ure. Three sc;i.lc-likc organs bet ween tlie perianth 

 and stamens ii\ .Asarum are prob;il)ly true petals. The 

 flowers of most .\risf olochiacea^ are lurid in color and 

 ])()llinated l)y llics. Many an' carrion-scented and afford 

 ;ui adciiliciiud ;it tract ion for these iii.s<'cls. The peri;inth 

 in Arisl<)loi'hi:i ii.ssinnes remark;ible shapes, some of 

 \vlii<'li have led to the niune "Diitelunim's pipe." 



The roiitstoek of Anar\iiii ciiiKidcnsc (Canada snake- 

 root or wild ginger) is aromatically jieppery, and used 

 t,o Hiivor wines, the breath, and the like. Ariatolochia 

 reticulata, of Arkansas, and Arintulochia Serpcnturia, of 

 the eastern Ihiited States, furnish the serpentaria of 

 medicine, u.scd as a tonic and as a febrifuge. The 

 latli'r plant is Virginia .snakcroot. The common name 

 arises from the reputed efficacy of these plants and 

 other species of the fixmily as remedies for snake-bites. 



The genera in cultivation in America are: Arislolo- 

 chia (Birthwort, Virginia Snakcroot, Dutchman's Pipe, 

 Pelican Flower, Goo.se Flower), hardy or greenhouse 

 twiners; .4sarimi (\\ild Ginger, Canada Snakeroot), 

 low hardy border herbs. 



Order 32. Polygonales 



64. Polygonaceae (from the genus Polygonum, de- 

 rived from the Greek meaning 7nany knees in reference 

 to the swollen joints of some species). Bockwheat 

 Family. Fig. 18. Herbs, shrubs, or trees, sometimes 

 twining: stem often knotty: leaves alternate, rarely 

 opposite, simple, usually with a sheathing stipular 

 growth (ochrea) at the base: flowers bisexual or unisex- 

 ual, regular; perianth apparently of one set, though 

 sometimes in 2 whorls, the parts usually 3, .5, or 6, dis- 

 tinct or connate at base, the inner set sometimes much 

 enlarged and modified with hooks, spines, wings, or 

 tubercles; stamens 1-1.5, usually 6, 8, or 9, usually op- 

 posite the perianth parts, mostly separate and hypogy- 

 nous; ovary superior or nearly so, compressed or 3- 

 angled, of 2-4-carpels, but 1-celled or falsely 3-celled; 

 ovule solitary; styles and stigmas 2-4: fruit a flat, an- 

 gled, or winged achene; seeds usually not inverted 

 (orthotropous). 



Thirty genera and about 700 species occur, mostly 

 in the north temperate zone of both continents. The 

 largest genera are Polygonum, 150 si)ecies; Coccoloba, 

 12.5 species; Eriogonum, 120 s])ecics; and Rumcx with 

 100 species. The family is not closely related to any 

 other, but is usually placed near the Chenopodiaceae 

 because of its simple floral structure and for want of a 

 better place. The stipular sheaths or, when absent, the 

 involucrate heads (Eriogonum), and 1 -celled fruit with 

 a single orthotropous seed, are distinctive. 



The foliage of the Polygonacea; contains an acid, for 

 which reason it is frequently eaten as salads or pot-herbs. 

 Among plants used for this purpose are several species 

 of llumex, petioles of Rheum. Rhaponticum, and Oxyria. 

 The seeds of buckwheat {Fagopyrum escidentum) con- 

 tain much starch and are made into flour. In medi- 

 cine, rhubarb (Rheum officinale), employed as a purge 

 and tonic, hits been in u.se since earliest times, and its 

 origin is lost in antiquity, though probably it is a na- 

 tive of China. Yellow dock (Rumex crispus) is a tonic. 

 Smarlweed (Polygon am 11 ydropiper) h;us an acrid juice 

 that will produce a blister. A blue dye is obtained 

 from P. tinctorium of China. The roots of Calligonum 

 I'nllasia are used in Siberia to stay hunger; and the 

 fruits to quench thirst. The a-stringent drug, bistorta, 

 is from F'. Bistorta. The leaves of P. orientate are 

 smoked like tobacco in China. 



.Several genera are in cultivation in America for 

 ornament and food. Among these are: Antigonon 

 (.Mountain Rose, San Miguelito), very showy climbers; 

 Coccoloba (Sea Grape, Shore Grape, Pigeon Plum), 



