620 



PART III. — THE CLASSIFICATION OF PLANTS. 



the calyx than the four which alternate with the sepals (Fig. 423) : 

 gynaeceum usual ly monomerous ; ovule suspended; fruit a berry : 

 seed without endosperm. 



Daphne Mezereon is common in woods ; the usually 3-flowered inflorescences 

 are borne in the axils of the foliage leaves of the previous year, and they bloom 

 before the development of the leaves of the same year. 



This order is frequently placed among the Monochlamydese, but this position 

 is untenable in consequence of the presence of a corolla in some genera [e.g. 

 Gnidia). 



Order 7. ELiEAGNACEj:. Flowers diclinous or polygamous, 4- or 

 2-merous ; the corolla is suppressed: the stamens opposite to the 

 sepals are sometimes wanting (Fig 424 B) ; a disc (Fig. 424 A, d) 

 usually closes the receptacle ; fruit an achene, surrounded by the 



Fio. 423.— Calyx of the flower of 

 Daphne Mezereon laid open (x 5) : o 

 tbe four superior, u the four inferior 

 stamens, adnate to the calyx. 



Fig. 424.— Flower of Elceagnxis fusca. A 

 In longitudinal section. B Floral diagram : 

 d disc (mag.: after Sachs). 



receptacle or by the whole perianth : gynaeceum monomerous : 

 ovule basal : seed with small endosperm : the leaves are covered, 

 especially on the under surface, with scaly hairs. 



This order is also frequently placed among the Monochlamydeae : but although 

 no corolla is indicated, the order must be retained near the Thymelasaceae. 



Hippophae rhamnoides, the Sea Buckthorn, is a shrub which is sometimes 

 common on the banks of streams; the smaller branches mostly terminate in a 

 thorn ; the flowers are dioecious and dimerous ; when the fruit is ripe the fleshy 

 receptacle is of an orange colour. Elaeagnus has tetramerous polygamous flowers 

 (Fig. 424) ; it is commonly cultivated. 



Cohort IV. Euphorbiales. Flowers monosporangiate, monoe- 



