232 SYSTEMATIC BOTANY. 



monadelphous stamens ; the anthers 1-2-celled, opening at the apex 

 by a pore or chink ; fruit a 2-cellecl, 2-seeded pod ; seeds caruncu- 

 lated. 



Character . 



Thalamvs flat or oblique. Calyx : sepals 5, very irregular, distinct, 

 often membranaceous ; 3 placed exterior, 1 behind and 2 in front, 

 the interior 2 (u>ings) lateral, usually petaloid. Corolla : petals 

 usually 3, 1 anterior and large (keel) and 2 posterior, between the 

 wings and posterior sepal of the calyx, and of ten coherent with the 

 keel ; sometimes 5, the additional 2 small, and placed between the 

 wings and the anterior sepals on each side ; the keel entire and 

 with a fringe or crest, or 3-lobed and without a crest. Stamens 

 hypogynous, 8, coherent in a tube, unequal and ascending ; the 

 tube split opposite the back sepal ; or 4, distinct ; anthers clavate, 

 1-celled, and opening by a terminal pore, or 2-celled. Ovary 

 compound, 2-3-celled, one cell always suppressed in some cases ; 

 ovules suspended, solitary or twin ; style and stigma simple, some- 

 times hooded. Fruit various, dry or succulent, sometimes winged ; 

 seeds pendulous, naked or with a hairy coat, a caruncle next the 

 hilum ; embryo straight or nearly so, in abundant perisperm. 

 Illustrative Genera: Sdlomonia, Lour. ; Polygala, L. ; Mundtia, 

 Kunth ; Monnina, Huiz & Pav. ; Securidaca, L. ; Xanthophyllum, 

 Hoxb. ; Krameria, Lceffl. (?). 



Affinities, &c. The relations of the Polygalaceee have been a subject of 

 much discussion among botanists. The irregular calyx and corolla, some- 

 what papilionaceous in Polygala, has led to a comparison to Leguminosae, 

 from which, however, they differ widely; moreover the odd petal is 

 anterior in Polygalads, not next the axis as in Leguminosse. The irregu- 

 lar petals, together with the hooded stigma, have suggested a relationship 

 to Violaceae ; Brown pointed out their relation to Tremandracese, of 

 which they may be considered irregular forms ; Krameria lias been re- 

 ferred by some writers to the Qsesalpineous division of the Leguminosge. 

 Most authors, however, are agreed that the nearest affinity is to Sapinda- 

 ceae. Krameria is raised to the rank of a distinct Order by a few writers, 

 on account of the different corolla, composed of 5 petals', 4 (often free) 

 stamens, and 1-celled ovary. Moutabea has sepals, petals, and stamens 

 connate into a tube. Xanthophyllum has free stamens, 2-celled anthers, 

 and a 1-celled fruit. Perisperm is sometimes wanting. The pollen in 

 Polygala is elliptical, with numerous bands. 



Distribution. A large Order, nearly half the species of which are 

 comprised in the genus Poli/f/nla and are very generally distributed ; the 

 others are mostly confined to particular quarters of the globe. 



Qualities and Uses. The plants of this Order are mostly bitter, and 

 aciid or astringent, with a milky juice in the root. The common Milk- 

 wort, P. vulgaris, and especially' the form called P. amara, possesses 

 bitter properties, but in less degree than P. rubella of North America. 



