416 KAN ALES. [Hypogynous Exogens. 



Alliance XXXII. RANALES.— The Ranal Alliance. 



Diagnosis.— Hypogynous Exogens, with monodichlamydcous flowers, sutural or axile 

 placenta, 00 stamens, and a minute embryo inclosed in a large quantity of fleshy or 

 horny albumen. 

 Under this name are collected some of the most common, and at the same time the 

 most highly developed species of the Vegetable Kingdom. In general they are charac- 

 terised by the presence of a distinct calyx and corolla ; but it is by no means uncommon 

 to find these organs so blended together as to be undistinguishable, while in other 

 instances the corolla is wholly wanting, and it even occurs occasionally that neither 

 one nor the other is present. In appearance Ranals are singularly different even in the 

 same Order ; as for example, in the Crowfoots, under which arrange themselves the 

 common Crowfoot, the Aconite, Thalictrum, and Xanthorrhiza. But although there is 

 so much diversity of appearance among them, nevertheless they certainly form a well 

 compacted group, no one member of which can be spared, as will be seen by examining 

 the remarks made under each Order. In general they have an indefinite number of 

 stamens, but the genus Bocagea presents a very remarkable exception to that rule. 

 They pass into the Berberal Alliance by the Poppyworts, some of winch resemble 

 Sarraceniads, and others the common forms of the Crowfoot Order. A clear case of 

 transition to the Erical Alliance also seems to be established by the genus Saurauja, 

 which to the disunited styles of Ranals and their indefinite stamens, adds the minute 

 indefinite seeds, porous anthers, and monopetalous corolla of Heathworts themselves ; 

 that genus may be regarded as a Clethra, with the indefinite stamens of Tetracera, 

 or as a Tetracera with the monopetalous corolla, minute seeds, and porous anthers of a 

 Clethra. To Umbellifers in the Epigynous series they pass by way of their genus Thalic- 

 trum, whose whole habit is that of the former Order, and whose fruit would, if it adhered 

 to the calyx, be nearly that of an Umbellifer. 



Natural Orders of Ranals. 



Carpels distinct. Stipules large, convolute. Corolla imbricated.'] 151 Magnoliaces:. 



Albumen homogeneous J 



Carpels distinct. Stipules 0. Corolla valvate. Albumen ruminate. 152. Anonace^;. 

 Carpels distinct. Stipules 0. Corolla imbricated. Albumen \ j- 3 jy lhLE:ilACE£m 



homogeneous. Seeds arillate J 



Carpels distinct. Stipules 0. Corolla imbricated. Albumen\ 154 R^-'jnculace.e. 



homogeneous. Seeds without an aril J 



Carpels consolidated. Calyx permanent. (Placenta; axile) . . 155. Sarracenmace.,e. 

 Carpels consolidated. Calyx deciduous. (Placenta; usually \ 156> p APAV erace.£. 



parietal) J 



