436 MANUAL OF NATURAL HISTORY. 



Til. ALLIANCE. HYPOGYNOUS-EXOGENS (Hypogynese). 



Flowers mostly hermaphrodite ; stamens entirely 

 free from calyx and corolla. 



I. ORDER. PIPERALS (Piperales). 



Flowers achlamydeous ; embryo minute, at or 

 near the outside of a large quantity of mealy 

 albumen. 



1. FAMILY. Lizard' s-tails (Saururacese). Herbs ; 



leaves alternate, stipulate ; flowers in spikes, 

 bisexual, on a scale or bract; stamens 3-6, 

 clavate ; ovaries 3-4; ovule erect ; stigmas 

 sessile, recurved ; fruit either four fleshy in- 

 dehiscent nuts, or a 1-3-4-celled capsule ; 

 embryo tying in a fleshy vitellus. Natives 

 of marshy places in North America, China, 

 and Northern India. 



2. FAMILY. Chloranths (Chloranthacese). Herbs 



or under-shrubs, aromatic ; stems jointed ; 

 leaves opposite, stipulate ; petioles sheathing ; 

 flowers in terminal spikes, bisexual or uni- 

 sexual, with a supporting scale ; stamens 

 lateral ; ovary unilocular ; ovule pendulous ; 

 stigma simple, sessile ; fruit drupaceous, in- 

 dehiscent ; embryo naked ; cotyledons di- 

 varicate. Natives of India, South America, 

 the West Indies, and the Society Islands. 



3. FAMILY. Peppers (PiperaceaB). Shrubs or herbs ; 



stems articulated ; leaves mostly opposite, 

 with or without stipules ; flowers spiked or 

 racemose, bisexual, supported on a bract ; 



