348 (I STALES. [Hypogynous Exooens. 



Alliance XXVII. CISTALES.— The Cist al Alliance. 



I)lxGXOS\s.—Hypogynous E.cogens, with monodkhlamydeous flowers, parietal or suturat 

 placenta, and a curved or spiral embryo, with little or 'no albumen. 



If we consider the Violal Alliance to be closed by Turnerads, that of Cistals will 

 necessarily commence with Rock Roses, which have much the habit of the former, but 

 which are distinctly separated by their convolute embryo and orthotropal seeds, to say 

 nothing of divers o'ther characters. If the Rock Roses are regarded as an Order with 

 indefinite stamens, they will join Capparids, but if the genera with definite stamens are 

 assumed to be the point of departure onwards, then it is into Crucifers that the line will 

 pass. The parietal placentation of Rock Roses is universal ; and though the number of 

 placentse is never reduced to two, yet if Fig. ccxli., 2, in the following page has one 

 of its placenta; removed and the other two brought into contact, we shall have the sihcle 

 of a Crucifer. There is no distinct passage from Crucifers into Resedads, which may 

 be regarded as an anomalous form of Capparids rather than in direct succession from 

 Crucifers ; but to Capparids themselves Crucifers pass by the whole division of Cleome* 

 among the former, some of which are actually hexandrous. The stipitate fruit of Cap- 

 parids brings us easily to Sterculiads in the next Alliance. 



Supposing these views to be just, then the mutual relation of the Orders included in 

 the Cistal Alliance may be thus expressed : 



Turneracea. — Cistacese : Brassicacese : Capparidacese. — Sterculiacece. 



Fesedacea. 



Natural Orders of Cistals. 



Stamens not tetradynamous, generally indefinite. Flowers %/ or \ .„„ p,, T , rP .. 



ij. Seeds with albumen. Fruit closed up . . . J 

 Stamens tctradynamous. Flowers if 123. Brassicace.e. 



Stamens not tetradynamous, definite. Flowers not tetramerous.\ . 9 . Rf^fdapfe 

 Seeds without albumen. Fruit usually open at the point - J 



Stamens not tetrad yiuimous. Flowers!/. Seeds without albumen. \ .-,- Capparidacex. 

 Fruit closed up . J 



