768 



GALIACE.E. 



[Epigynous Exogens. 



Ohder CCXCV. GALIACEvE.— Stellates. 



Stellatie, Ray Spnopg. 223. (1690) ; R. Brown in Congo, (1818).— Galieae, Turp. in Atlas da, Nouv. Diet, 

 des St.: (?)— Uubiacea?, § Stellatae, Cham, et Schlecht. in Linncea, 3. 220. (1828) ; DC. Prod'-. 4. 

 580 ; Barll. Ord. Not. 209 ; End/. Gen. p. 522 ; Meisner, p. 173.— Rubiaceae, § Galie<e, N. ab Es et 

 Fahlrolt. Nat. Pflanz. Syst. 165. (1829). 



Diagnosis. — Cinchona! Exogens, with epipetalous stamens, straight anthers bursting longi- 

 tudinally, didymous fruit, and verticillate leaves without stipules. 



Herbaceous plants, with whorled leaves, destitute of stipules, and angular stems. 

 Flowers minute. Calyx superior, obsolete, or 4- 5- or 6-lobed. Corolla monopetalous, 



val vate,rotate,or tubular, regu- 

 lar, inserted into the calyx; the 

 number of its divisions equal 

 to those of the calyx. Sta- 

 mens equal in number to the 

 lobes of the corolla, and alter- 

 nate with them. Ovary pel- 

 tate or 2-celled ; ovules soli- 

 tary, erect ; styles2 ; stigma simple. Fruit a didymous, 

 indehiscent pericarp, with 2 cells and 2 seeds. Seeds 

 erect or peltate, solitary ; embryo in the axis of horny 

 albumen ; radicle inferior ; cotyledons leafy. 



There can be little doubt that the inconspicuous 

 weeds of which this Order is composed have as strong 

 Fig. 1)1X. a claim to be separated from Cinehonads as that Order 



from Caprifoils. It is true that no very positive 

 characters are to be obtained from the fructification, but the want is abundantly 

 supplied by the square stems and verticillate leaves without stipules, forming a kind of 

 star, from which circumstance the name Stellate is derived. Nevertheless, Botanists 

 in most intances appear to be against this opinion : I confess I cannot conceive upon 

 what grounds. Usually a material dissimilarity in habit, if accompanied by any clear 

 character, whether of vegetation or fructification, is considered sufficient for the 

 separation of a group of plants into two Orders ; in this case the weak angular stems 



V'fg. DIX. — Galium Aparine ; 1. a flower 

 section of a ripe fruit. 



2. a young fruit without the corolla. 3. a perpendicular 



