332 SYSTEMATIC BOTANY. 



abound in salt marshes, and were formerly much used in the preparation 

 of barilla. Several species of Chenopodium and Atriplex abound in waste 

 places, forming 1 , with various kinds of Dock (It/urnex), Polyyonum, and 

 Urtica (Nettle), the most conspicuous weeds of neglected cultivated 

 ground. 



BASELLACEJE are a small Order of plants closely related to Chenopo- 

 diaceae, chiefly distinguished by the presence of a double, coloured perianth 

 and perigj'nous stamens : they are tropical climbing herbs or shrubs. 

 Some species of Basella are used as Spinach ; Ulluciis tttberosus has a 

 tuberous root, used in Peru like the Potato. 



PHYTOLACCACEJE proper are nearly connected with Polygonaceae and 

 Chenopodiaceae, differing from both in the frequent presence of petals and 

 of a number of carpels, from the former also in the absence of stipules, 

 from the latter in the stamens exceeding the lobes of the perianth. Phy- 

 tolaccefs pass into Petiveriece by the occurrence of 5 separate carpels in 

 Giesekia, while Rivinia has little perisperni ; the Petiveriece would then 

 connect this Order with the Sapindaceae and their allies, while the 

 columella of the Gyrostemonece would mark a distant affinity with the 

 Malvaceae. A small Order, scattered in all parts of the world, with 

 properties more or less acrid, purgative, or emetic. 



PABONYCHIACEJE, sometimes placed in this group, are treated of pre- 

 viously near Oarophyllaceae. 



PETIVEBTEJE, separated by some authors, have stipulate leaves, single 

 ovary, aperispermie seeds, and a straight embryo with convolute coty- 

 ledons; and GYROSTEMONE^E have exstipulate leaves, unisexual flowers, 

 the carpels arranged round a columella, twin suspended ovules, peri- 

 spermic seeds, with a hooked embryo having linear cotyledons, and an 

 inferior radicle. The last two orders are included under Phytolaccaceae 

 by Le Maout and Decaisne. 



LAURACE^E. THE LAUREL OKDEE. 



Coh. Laurales, Benth. et Hook. Fig.^428. 



Diagnosis. Aromatic trees or shrubs, with 

 alternate simple exstipulate leaves, sometimes 

 marked with pellucid dots, and flowers with a con- 

 cave thalamus, regular perianth of 4-6 coloured 

 sepals, which are barely united at the base, im- 

 bricated in 2 circles in the bud, free from the 

 1-celled ovary containing 1 or 2 pendulous ovules, 

 and mostly fewer than the stamens ; anthers open- 

 ing by 2 or 4 lid-like valves (fig. 42S) ; fruit a 

 berry or a drupe ; seed without perisperm ; radicle 



Superior. Stamen"rflaar.. 



