XIX 



THE CLASSIFICATION OF PLANTS 



Inflorescence.. Indefinite, erect, raceme. 



Flowers. Complete, actinomorphic, cruciform. Diameter i^ 

 inches. Yellow or reddish-brown in colour and sweet scented. 



Calyx. Polysepalous 2 + 2, inferior ; inner sepals saccate ; 

 sepals lanceolate and hairy. 



Corolla. Polypetalous ; petals 4, hypogynous and clawed. 



Androzrium. Free ; stamens 6, tetradynamous, hypogynous; 

 filaments thick, anther two-lobed. 



Gyncecium. Syncarpous ; carpels 2 ; ovary superior, linear, 

 spuriously two-celled ; style short ; stigma 2-fid. 



Ovules. Numerous, parietal placentation. 



Fruit. A siliqua. Seeds with a little endosperm. 



Pollination. The flowers are visited by insects for their 

 honey, which is stored in the saccate sepals. 



FIG. 243. Wild Radish (Raphanus Sativus.. , flower (nat. size) ; b, petal ; c, an- 

 droecium and gynoecium ; d, pistil with glands ; e, fruit ; f, transverse section 

 of fruit ; g and A, embryo. (S.) 



Properties of Cruciferae. All Crucifera are wholesome, being 

 largely used for food. Many are valuable because of the organic acids 

 they contain. 



The principal plants of this order cultivated for food are : (a) For 

 their roots, Turnip (Brassica campestris}. (b) For their leaves, Cabbage 

 (Brassica). " Brussels-Sprouts " is a variety of Cabbage which produces 

 large axillary buds. The young seedlings of the Cress (Leptdium sat- 



