332 



PASSIFLORACEjE. 



[Hypogynous Exogens. 



Order CXIII. PASSIFLORACEjE.— Passionwokts. 



Passifloreae Juss. Ann. Mus. 6. 102. (1805) ; Id. Diet, des Sciences Nat. 38. 48. ; DC. Prodr. 3. 321; 

 Achille Richard Diet. Class 13. 95. (1828) ; Endl. Gen. exevii. ; Meisner, Gen. p. 124. 



Diagnosis. Yiolal Exogens, with poly petal ous or apetalous coronetted floioers, perigynous 



imbricated petals, stamens on the stalk of the ovary, simple terminal styles, arillated 

 seeds, and stipidate leaves. 

 Herbaceous plants or shrubs, usually climbing, very seldom erect. Leaves alternate, 



with foliaceous stipules, often glandular. Flowers axillary or terminal, often with 



a 3-leaved involucre. Sepals 5, sometimes irregular, combined in a tube of variable 



length, the sides and 

 throat of which are 

 lined by filamentous 

 or annular processes, 

 apparently metamor- 

 phosed petals. Petals 

 5, arising from the 

 throat of the calyx, 

 on the outside of the 

 filamentous processes, 

 occasionally wanting, 

 sometimes irregular, 

 imbricated in aesti- 

 vation. Stamens 5, 

 monadelphous, rarely 

 indefinite, surround- 

 ing the stalk of the 



Fig. eexxvu. 



ovary ; anthers turned outwards, linear, 2-celled, bursting longitudinally. Ovary 

 seated' on a long stalk, superior, 1 -celled ; styles 3, arising from the same point, 

 davate ; stigmas dilated ; ovules 00, anatropal, parietal, often inserted on long stalks. 

 Fruit stalked, 1 -celled, with 3 parietal polyspermous placentae, sometimes 3-valved. 

 Seeds attached in several rows to the placentae, with a brittle sculptured testa surrounded 

 by a pulpy aril ; embryo straight, in the midst of fleshy thin albumen ; radicle turned 

 towards the hilum ; cotyledons flat, leafy. 



The real nature of the floral envelopes of this remarkable Order is a question upon 

 which Botanists entertain different opinions, and their ideas of its affinities are conse- 

 quently at variance. According to Jussieu (Diet, des Sciences, 38. 49.), the " parts 



Fig. CCXXVil.— Passifiora ; 1. section of a flower ; 2. of its ripe fruit. 



