114 



ORDER LVI. HAMAMELACE.E. ORDER LIX. CORNAGE^E. 



Stamens 5 10, inserted on the calyx tube. Ovary adherent to 

 the calyx tube, of 2, or sometimes 3 5 carpels, cohering below, 

 distinct above. Styles 2, sometimes 3 5. Fruit a 1, or rarely 

 8 5-celled capsule. 



An unimportant order, native chiefly of the colder portions of the world, 

 often ornamental in cultivation. Saxifraga (Saxifrage), Hydrangea and Phil- 

 adelphus (False Syringd), are examples. 



ORDER LVI. Hamamelaceae. 



Shrubs. Leaves alternate, with veins running from the mid- 

 vein to the margin. Stipules deciduous. Calyx 4-cleft. Petals 

 4, linear, sometimes none. Stamens 8, those opposite the petals 

 barren, or else many, and all fertile; inserted on the calyx. 

 Ovary 2-celled. Styles 2, distinct. Capsule coriaceous, or woody, 

 2-beaked, 2-celled, free from the calyx at apex. 



A small and unimportant order, represented at the North hy the Witch 

 Hazel (Hamameiis), which, however, has some medicinal properties. 



ORDER LVII. Umbelliferae. 



Herbs, rarely suffrutescent. Stems usually hollow and fur- 

 rowed. Leaves alternate, usually more or less compound, the 

 petioles becoming dilated, and sheathing at base. Flowers in 

 umbels, usually with an involucre. Calyx adherent to the ovary, 

 the very small border 5-toothed, or entire. Petals 5, usually 

 with an inflexed point, inserted between the calyx-teeth in a disk 

 which crowns the ovary. Stamens 5, alternate with the petals. 

 Ovary of 2 united carpels, 2-celled, with 1 ovule in each cell. 

 Styles 2, distinct, or united and thickened at the base. Fruit 

 consisting of 2 dry carpels, which adhere by their opposite faces 

 (Commissure) to a common axis (Carpophore}, at length separating, 

 and suspended from the forked summit of the carpophore. Each 

 carpel is indehisceut, marked with 5 longitudinal primary ribs, 

 and often with secondary ones alternate with the first. In the 

 substance of the pericarp, little oil tubes (vittce) are usually em- 

 bedded opposite the intervals between the ribs, or opposite the 

 ribs themselves. These are receptacles of colored volatile oils. 



A very large order of very important plants, natives principally in damp or 

 wet soils, in most of the cooler parts of the world. The herbage is often per- 



vaded by an acrid narcotic principle, which renders it very poisonous, as in 



Conium maculatum, fig. 11, and the Cicuta But the seeds contain volatile oil, 



generally of an aromatic and stimulant nature, and 



never poisonous. Such are the Coriander, Caraway, 



Dill, Fennel, and Anise, which for their aromatic 



seeds are used in cookery and medicine. The 



roots also are often fleshy and nutritious, as in the 



Carrot and Parsnip. Even the herbage of some 



species is wholesome and stimulant. Such are the 



Celery and Sweet Cicely. The stalks of the former, 



however, are poisonous, when it grows wild in 



marshes. In fig. 12 the carpophore of Pastinaca 



(Parsnip), is represented supporting the separate 



carpels; and in fig. 13, the vittte and ribs of Dancus Fig. 12. Fig. 18. 



(the Carrot), magnified. 



ORDER LVIII. Araliaceae. 



Herbs, shrubs, or trees. Leaves compound or simple, exsti- 

 pulate. Flowers in umbels, which are often arranged in racemes, 

 or panicles. Calyx adherent to the ovary, with a small, entire, 

 or 5-toothed limb. Petals 5 10, very rarely wanting, inserted 

 in a disk which crowns the ovary. Stamens as many as the pe- 

 tals, alternate with them. Ovary 2 15 celled, with 1 ovule in 

 each cell. Styles erect, connivent, as many as the cells. Fruit 

 drupaceous, or baccate, the carpels not separating when ripe. 



A small order of plants much resembling the last, distinguished chiefly by 

 their several-celled ovary, and cohering carpels. Aralia ( Wild Sarsaparilla 

 and Pettymorret), Panax (Ginseng), and Hedera (English fvy), are example*. 



ORDER LIX. Cornacese. 



Trees, or shrubs, rarely herbaceous. Leaves opposite, or 

 verticillate, rarely alternate. Calyx-tube adherent to the ovary, 

 limb minute, 4 5 lobed. Petals 4 5, alternate with the calyx 

 lobes, distinct. Stamens as many as the petals, alternate with 

 them, and inserted on the disk that crowns the 1-celled ovary. 

 Fruit a globose berry, crowned by the persistent calyx teeth. 



A small order, native of the temperate zones, and distinguished by the as- 

 tringent properties of their bark. Cornus (Cornel and Flowering Dog-icood") 

 is our only genus. 



Fig. 11. 



SECTION II. MONOPETALE. 



Flowers with 2 series of floral envelopes, a calyx sometimes 

 bracted at base, and a monopetalous corolla. 



Monopetalous Plants not included under Monopetal<z. 



Order I. Ranunculacese. Herbs, with much dissected leaves. 

 Sepals petaloid, distinct, upper one spurred. Stamens many. 



Order XL Fumariacese. Climbing herbs, with decompound 

 leaves. 



Order LIV. Cucurbitaceee. Coarse herbs climbing by ten- 

 drils. 



Order XCV. Nyctaginacese. Leaves opposite ; one of each 

 pair smaller than the other. Corolla apparently funnel form, the 

 limb entire. 



Monopetalce proper. 



GROUP 1. Leaves opposite, or verticillate. Calyx more or 

 less adherent to the ovary. Stamens 2-r-5, distinct. Orders 

 LX. LXIII. inclusive. 



GROUP 2. Calyx-tube adherent to the ovary. Stamens 5, 

 distinct ; or else united by their anthers, or through a great part 

 of their length. Orders LXIV. LXVI. inclusive. 



GROUP 3. Shrubs with unarmed branchlets; or else ever- 

 green, or leafless herbs. Stamens 4, or more, never didynamous. 

 Ovary single. Anthers usually 2-celled, but never with trans- 

 verse valves. Orders LXVII. LXX. inclusive. 



GROUP 4. Herbs. Corolla regular, with equal segments. 

 Stamens 4 8, never didynamous. Ovary 1, entire, 1 2-celled. 

 Styles 1, or 5, with simple stigmas. Corolla neither twisted noi 

 plaited in prefloration. Orders LXXI. LXX III. inclusive. 



GROUP 5. Corolla very irregular ; or else nearly regular with 

 4 5 more or less unequal lobes. Ovary single, not lobed, 12- 



