182 THALAM1FLOIUE. 



ORDER XLIX. OXALIDE^E. 



Calyx 5-sepalled or 5-partite. Petals 5, hypogy- 

 nous, clawed, twisted during aestivation. Stamens 

 10, usually more or less monadelphous ; 5 opposite 

 to the petals, forming an inner series, and longer than 

 the 5 which alternate with the petals : anthers 2-cell- 

 ed, innate. Ovary 5-angled and 5-celled : styles 

 5 : stigmata capitate or somewhat bifid. Capsule 

 ovate or oblong, sub-5-gonal, 5-celled, 5-10 valved, 

 bursting longitudinally at the angles : seeds few, fixed 

 to the axis, enclosed within a fleshy integument which 

 curls back on the maturity of the fruit, and expels 

 the seed elastically ; albumen cartilagineo-carnose ; 

 embryo inverted, length of the albumen, with the 

 cotyledons leafy, and the radicle long and pointing to 

 the hilum. 



Suffruticose or herbaceous plants. Natives of the hotter and 

 temperate regions of the world. Their foliage is generally 

 acid. Several of the species, such as OXALIS ACETOSELLA of 

 Europe, contain oxalic acid. The OXALIS CRENATA, a native 

 of Columbia, and which has been introduced into the Island, 

 produces at the root, a number of tubers, resembling the potato. 



I. OXALIS. Sorrel. 



Calyx of 5 sepals, sepals free or coalescing at the 

 base. Petals 6. Stamens 10, shortly monadelphous 

 at the base ; the 5 outer ones shorter. Styles 5, peni- 

 cilliform or capitate at the apex. Capsule 5-agonal 

 or cylindraceous. 



Perennial, caulescent, stipitate, or stemless ; leaves various, 

 but never abruptly pinnated Name, from ov$ sharp. 



1. Oxalis Jamaicensis. Jamaica sorrel. 



Stem decumbent branched pubescent, peduncles 

 axillary nearly the length of the leaf, generally 2-flow- 

 ered, leaflets obcordate ciliated, petals entire, styles 

 rather shorter than the inner stamens. 



