EXOGENJE THALAMIFLOR^E. 95 



passing gradually into each other. Stamens numerous, in- 

 serted ahove the petals into the disk ; filaments petaloid ; 

 disk large, fleshy. Fruit many-celled. Seeds very numerous, 

 attached to spongy dissepiments. Embryo on the outside of 

 the base of the albumen, in a bag. 



USES. Of little moment. Euryale seeds are eaten. Rhi- 

 zomata slightly astringent and sedative. 



TYPICAL GENERA. Nymphsea, Nuphar. 



6. Nelumbiacea. Herbs with peltate, floating leaves. 

 Sepals 4 or 5. Petals numerous. Stamens numerous. Disk 

 fleshy, enclosing in hollows of its substance the monospermous 

 ovaries. Nuts numerous, half buried in the disk. 



USES. Nuts and creeping rhizomata eatable. 



TYPICAL GENUS. Nelumbium. 



"2. 7. Dilleniaceae. Trees, shrubs, or under-shrubs, rarely 

 herbaceous, leaves without stipules. Flowers often yellow. 

 Sepals 5 ; 2 exterior, 3 interior. Petals 5. Stamens indefi- 

 nite. Ovaries definite. Carpels baccate or 2-valved. Seeds 

 surrounded by a pulpy aril. Embryo in solid albumen. 



USES. Generally astringent. The leaves of many species 

 are covered with asperities, which render them useful mecha- 

 nically as polishing substances. Nothing deleterious known 

 among them. Flowers occasionally intolerably fetid. 



TYPICAL GENERA. Dillenia, Tetracera, Hibbertia. 



[^ 8. Magnoliacete. Trees or shrubs with convolute sti- 

 pules. Flowers large, solitary. Sepals 3-6. Petals 3-27, 

 imbricated. Stamens indefinite. Carpels numerous, dis- 

 tinct or consolidated. 



USES. Bark tonic and febrifugal ; that of the root of Mag- 

 nolia glauca and Liriodendron in great repute in North 

 America. Flowers often very fragrant. 



TYPICAL GENERA. Magnolia, Liriodendron. 



9. Winteraceee. Shrubs or small trees. Woody tissue 

 glandular. Leaves alternate, dotted, with convolute deciduous 

 stipules. Flowers often brown. Sepals 2-6. Petals 2-30, 

 imbricated. Stamens hypogynous. Ovaries 1-celled with 

 suspended or erect ovules. Fruit consisting of a single row 

 of carpels. Seeds with or without aril. 



