ORDER L. CACTACE.E. ORDER LV. SAXIFRAGACEJ2. 



113 



A large and chiefly tropical order, distinguished by dotted leaves, and aro- 

 matic properties. Myrtus, the Myrtle, and Punica, the Pomegranate, are 

 examples of this family, which also includes the Caryophyllus aromatictts, 

 or Clove-tree, and tho Eugenia Piinenta, the dried fruit of which is known in 

 cookery as Allspice. 



GROUP X. 

 ORDER XLVII. Melastomacese. 



Trees, shrubs, or herbs, with square branches. Leaves oppo- 

 site, ribbed, entire. Sepals 4 6, united, persistent, forming an 

 urceolate tube, which coheres only with the angles of the ovary. 

 Petals as many as the calyx-segments, twisted in prefloration. 

 Stamens twice as many as the petals, rarely as many, the fila- 

 ments inflexed in prefloration. Anthers 1-celled, before flowering 

 contained in the cavities between the calyx and ovary. Fruit a 

 capsule, and nearly free from the investing calyx ; or else 

 baccate. 



A large tropical order, of which the different species of Rhcxia (Meadow 

 Beauty, Deer Grass), are our only representatives. 



ORDER XL VIII. Lythraceae. 



Herbs, rarely shrubs. Leaves opposite, or verticillate, rarely 

 alternate, entire. Calyx tubular, 4 7-lobed, the lobes some- 

 times with intermediate teeth. Petals inserted between the 

 calyx-segments, very deciduous, or none. Stamens as many as 

 the petals, or 2 4 times as many, inserted on the calyx-tube. 

 Ovary inclosed in the calyx-tube, but not adherent, 2 4-celled. 

 Style 1. Capsule membranous, usually 1-celled by abortion. 

 Seeds small, attached to a central placenta, destitute of albumen. 



An unimportant, mostly tropical order, represented among us chiefly by the 

 Lythrum and Decodon. 



ORDER XLIX. Onagraceae. 



Herbs, or shrubs. 

 Flowers axillary, in 

 spikes, or racemes. Se- 

 pals united in a tubular 

 2 6 lobed calyx Pe- 

 tals usually as many as 

 the calyx-lobes, and alter- 

 nate with them,sometimes 

 none. Stamens as many, 

 or *twice as many, in- 

 serted in the calyx-throat, 

 1 8. Filaments distinct 

 Ovary coherent with the 

 calyx-tube, 2 4, or by 

 abortion 1 2-cellea. 

 Style prolonged, or fili- 

 form. Fruit baccate, or 

 capsular; sometimes dry 

 and indehiscent. 



A rather large order, abun- 

 dant almost throughout Ame- 

 rica, comprehending some 

 ornamental plants, but other- 

 wise not very remarkable. 

 The Epilobium ( WiUow- 

 herV), and (Euothen (Evening 

 Primrose), fig. 10, arc na- 

 tives; and the beautiful Fus- 

 chia, or Lady's Eardrop, is 

 cultivated among us. 



Fig. 10. 



ORDER L. Cactacese. 



Succulent, shrubby plants, almost always destitute of leaves, 

 and producing spinose buds. Stems visually angular, or flattened, 

 or columnar. Flowers sessile, showy. Sepals numerous, forming 

 a tube, which adheres to the ovary, completely inclosing it Pe- 

 tals indefinite, often passing into the sepals, inserted into the 

 calyx-tube over the summit of the ovary. Stamens indefinite, 

 attached to the base of the petals, with long filaments and yersa- 



15 



tile anthers. Ovary 1-celled, fleshy. Style single, forming a 

 stellate cluster with several anthers. Fruit a many-seeded berry. 

 A very remarkable order of shrubby plants, distinguished by their curious 

 structure and splendid flowers. They are all American, and chiefly confined to 

 the tropics. The fruit of several species is edible; the acid juice of others af- 

 fords a cooling draught for the traveller, in those arid regions where they 

 abound; the Torch Thistles, \vhich grow to the height of 30 or 40 feet, supply 

 the natives with wood; and several other species give food to the precious co- 

 chineal insect, which yields the beautiful red dye known by its name. The 

 Opuntia (Prickly Pear) is found native as far north as Massachusetts; and se- 

 veral species of Cereus and Melocactus, are cultivated among us, under the 

 common name of Cactus. 



ORDER LI. G-rossulacese. 



Shrubs, unarmed or prickly. Leaves alternate, palmately 

 lobed, plaited in vernation. Flowers in axillary racemes. Calyx 

 5-cleft, regular, marcescent, tho tube adherent to the ovary. 

 Petals 5, inserted in the calyx-tube, alternate with its segments. 

 Stamens 5, alternate with the petals, very short. Ovary 1-celled, 

 with 2 parietal placentae. Styles 2, distinct, or united. Fruit a 

 berry, crowned by the withered flower. 



An order containing merely the genus Kibes, of which all our Currants and 

 Gooseberries are species. 



GROUP XI. 

 ORDER LII. Passifloracese. 



Herbaceous or shrubby, usually climbing plants. Leaves al- 

 ternate, with leafy stipules. Flowers large, showy, often with a 

 3-leaved involucre. Sepals 4 5, united below into a tube of 

 varied length, the throat of which is usually lined with a ring of 

 filamentous processes. Petals 4 5, sometimes irregular or want- 

 ing. Stamens 4 5, monadelphous, surrounding and adhering to 

 the stalk of the free, 1-celled, stipitate ovary. Styles 34, cla- 

 vate. Fruit naked, or else merely surrounded by the persistent 

 calyx, sometimes dehiscent, sometimes fleshy and indehiscent, 

 many-seeded. 



A chiefly tropical order, producing some ornamental flowers, and sometimes 

 edible fruits, as the Grenadilla, which is the fruit of a species of Passiflora, or 

 Passion-flower. One species, the Passiftora ccerulea, is common in cultiva- 

 tion. 



ORDER LIII. Cucurbitacese. 



Succulent herbs, climbing, or creeping by tendrils. Leaves 

 alternate, palmately lobed and veined, coarse and rough. Flowers 

 monoecious, or polygamous. Calyx 5-lobed. Petals 5, united to- 

 gether, attached to the calyx, very cellular, and much reticulated 

 in structure. Stamens 5, united in 1 or 3 sets, rarely 3, and dia- 

 delphous. Anthers very long, variously wavy and contorted, 2- 

 celled. Ovary adherent to the calyx-tube, 1-celled, with 3 pari- 

 etal placentae. Fruit a pepo, rarely membranous, and 14- 

 seeded. Seeds flat. 



A very important, chiefly tropical order, which affords many nourishing and 

 delicious fruits. They are, however, pervaded by a bitter cathartic principle, 

 which is sometimes so active as to make them poisonous. The Colocynth and 

 Elaterium, well known articles of the Materia Medico, are found here. The 

 Pumpkin, Squash, Cucumber, Gourd, and Melon, are examples among our 

 cultivated fruits. 



ORDER LIV. Crassulaceee. 



Succulent herbs, or shrubby plants. Leaves simple, without 

 stipules. Flowers usually in cymes. Sepals 3 20, more or less 

 united at base, persistent. Petals as many as the sepals, rarely 

 cohering together, sometimes none. Stamens as many as the se- 

 pals, and alternate with them, or twice as many, inserted on the 

 calyx. Ovaries as many as the petals, and opposite to them, 

 Follicles as many as the ovaries, many-seeded. 



An unimportant order of succulent plants, growing in dry and arjd soils and 

 districts. Sedum (Orpine, Live-forever) and Sempervivnm (ffowseleek), 

 are examples. 



ORDE.R LV. ^xifragaceae. 



Herbs, or shrubs. Leaves alternate, or opposite, sometimes, 

 stipulate. Sepals 4 or 5, more or less cohering, persistent Pe- 

 tals 4 or 5, inserted between the calyx lobes, rarely wanting. 



