286 SYSTEMATIC BOTANY 



in each axil, the topmost opening first. Petals white 

 or pinkish, filaments long, white at first, and soon 

 turning purple. Ovary globular on a stalk,' a little 

 longer than the numerous stamens ; no style. Fruit 

 a berry an inch or more in diameter, red-brown in 

 colour, smooth, seeds many. 



CRAT^VA RELIGIOSA, Forst., a tree, native of the 

 western side of the peninsula, but cultivated in gardens 

 all over India ; deciduous, the leaves falling off in 

 the early months of the year, and appearing with the 

 flowers at the beginning of the hot weather. Branches 

 covered with grey bark marked with fine wrinkles. 

 Leaves clustered at the ends of the branches, alternate, 

 petioled, without stipules, compound. Leaflets three, 

 ovate lanceolate or elliptic, acuminate, entire, with 

 short stalks connected by joints to the main rachis. 



Flowers on short branches in terminal corymbs up 

 to three inches diameter. Sepals four, soon falling 

 off. Petals four yellowish white, with distinct ' claw ' 

 and broadly ovate blade. Stamens numerous, filaments 

 about as long as the petals, anthers attached by their 

 bases, opening by two longitudinal lines (i.e. normal 

 and complete), curling up when dried. Ovary on a 

 stalk, A inch to i inch long, globular, one celled ; 

 stigma sessile (no style) ; ovules numerous on two 

 parietal placentas. Fruit a berry about two inches 

 in diameter; seeds kidney-shaped, with yellow pulp. 

 Embryo bent. 



CHARACTERS OF THE CAPPARIDE^ 



Comparing these examples, we see that this family 

 comprises herbs, shrubs and trees, having alternate, 



