170 POLYGALE^E. 



sepals. Stamens tetradynamous. Torus, or disk " small, 

 sometimes supporting the germen, at others being fur- 

 nished with nectariferous glands situated between the 

 petals, stamens, and germen." Ovarium one, or spu- 

 riously two- celled, placentae parietal. Fruit, a siliqua 

 or a silicula, one, or spuriously two-celled, dehiscing by 

 valves or indehiscent. Seeds, many, exalbuminous, with 

 the embryo folded upon the cotyledons which are folia- 

 ceous in germination. 



Herbaceous, rarely with a tendency to shrubbyness, 

 with alternate and exstipulate leaves, and generally yel- 

 low or white flowers. Allied to Papaveracese, etc. 



Geographical Relations. Europe more especially, 

 are unknown in equinoctial Africa, but extend on the 

 other hand to Baffin's Bay and Melville Islands. 



Properties. Stimulant, often pungently so, and even 

 acrid ; but none are really poisonous. Their powers 

 are owing to a volatile oleaginous principle, which, when 

 moderated by a good proportion of amylaceous or mu- 

 cilaginous material in the plant becomes a useful condi- 

 ment. 



Officinal Plants. 



Cardamine pratensis. 

 Sinapis nigra. 

 Sinapis alba. 



5. POLYGALEJS. 



Sepals 5, distinct, glumaceous or petaloid, and irregu- 

 lar, of which three are external, one being superior, and 

 the other two anterior ; and two internal and lateral. 

 Petals 3 (sometimes 5,) hypogynous, one is larger than 

 the others and anterior, and sometimes crested; the 

 other two are superior, one being on each side of the 



