CHAPTER XX 



CLASSIFICATION OF PLANTS (Continued} 



Sub-class : Gamopetalae. 



Natural Order : Compositae (Composite Family). 

 The plants of this order which belong to the British flora are 

 herbs. Their leaves are various and ex- 



stipulate. Flowers small and occur in 

 heads. The calyx is small or absent ; in 

 some cases it is replaced by a pappus of 

 hairs. The corolla consists of from 3 to 5 

 petals. The 5 stamens are syngenesious 

 (p. 185), and epipetalous. The pistil is syn- 

 carpous, carpels 2, inferior. The ovary is 

 one-celled with a single ovule. Seeds ex- 



FIG. 255. Floral 



albuminous. 



Floral formula. K($ - o)C(5,)A(s),G(2). 



Division of Compositse. The plants of this order are 

 divided into two sub-orders : (a) Tubuliflorce with the flowers 

 actinomorphic, or the ray florets one -lipped, e.g., Daisy, 

 Thistle. (.) Liguliflorce with the flowers ligulate or strap- 

 shaped, e.g., Dandelion, Hawk's-weed. 



Description of a Typical member of Tubuliflorae 

 (Bellis perennis, Daisy). 



Habit. A perennial herbaceous plant, growing in meadows. 



Stem. An underground rootstock. 



Leaves. Radical, petiolate, toothed, green. 



Inflorescence. Indefinite, head or capitulum (p. 168). 



Flowers. The central flowers are termed disc flowers* and 



