EXOGEKLffi THALAMIFLOR^l. 



103 



Ovary with 2 or 3 cells ; ovules solitary, pendulous. Seeds 

 pendulous, with a caruncula next the hilum ; albumen abun- 

 dant. 



USES. Leaves bitter, root milky. Polygala Senega, the 

 Rattlesnake root, is stimulant, diaphoretic, emetic, and em- 

 menagogue ; it has been employed successfully in croup. Many 

 other species have similar properties. Polygala Poaya is one 

 of the Brazilian emetics. The bark of Monnina polystachya, 

 a Peruvian plant, is detersive, and used as a substitute for 

 soap. 



TYPICAL GENERA. Polygala, Mural tia, Mundia. 



Polygala erioptera. 1. An entire flower seen from the side. 2. The same cut 

 open to exhibit the stamens. 3. The pistil. 4. A section of a ripe seed ; in the 

 middle is the embryo ; at the apex, which represents the real base, is seen a carun- 

 cula. 



23. FranJceniacea. Herbaceous plants or under-shrubs. 

 Stems much branched. Leaves small, opposite, exstipulate, 

 with a membranous sheathing base. Sepals 4-5, in a furrowed 

 tube. Petals hypogynous, unguiculate, with appendages at 

 the base of the limb. Stamens definite. Style 2- or 3-fid. 

 Capsule 1 -celled, enclosed in the calyx, 2- 3- or 4~valved, many- 

 seeded. Seeds attached to the margins of the valves, very 

 minute ; embryo in the midst of albumen. 



USES. Unknown. 



TYPICAL GENUS. Frankenia. 



