200 



ALLIANCES OF PLANTS. 



Alliance 4. Grossales. Flowers epigynous, arranged in ra- 

 cemes. Stems solid. 



Placentae parietal 



13. Grossulacese 



Placentae central, many- 14. Escalloniaceae. 



seeded. 

 Placentae central , few-seeded 1 5 . Br uniaceae. 



Tonic, or harmless 

 (BlackCurrants). 



Alliance 5. Berberales. Apocarpous, with the valves of the 

 anthers curved backwards. 



16. Berberacese 

 Nandinese. 



Acid, astringent 

 (Berberry'). Dye 



yellow. 



Alliance 6. Pittosporales. Syncarpous, with hypogynous 

 stamens, and the placentae in the centre of the 

 fruit. 



Fruit two-celled. Seeds 17. Vitaceae . 



few. 

 Fruit with more than two 18. Pittosporaceae. 



cells. Seeds numerous. 



Stamens all perfect. 

 Petals split. Flowers un- 19. Olacaceae. 



symmetrical. 

 Fruit with more than two 20. Francoaceae. 



cells. Seeds numerous. 



Stamens half sterile. 

 Stigma leafy, peltate 



Acidity and sugar 

 ( Vine), 



21. Sarraceniaceae. 



A group in appearance natural, and agreeing with its technical character in all respects, 

 with the exception of Nelumbium, which has no albumen ; and the genus Berberis, in 

 which the embryo is much larger in proportion to the albumen than in any other instance. 



Some connecting links are obviously wanting in this group ; and, until it is well 

 considered, it will appear less natural than it really is, especially if we compare such 

 plants as the Vine with the Crowfoot, or either with Sarracenia. Nevertheless, it is to 

 be observed, that it very nearly agrees with De Candolle's Thalamiflorous subclass, and 

 that the mutual affinities of the alliances may be demonstrated. Take Anonales and 

 Ranales for the centre of the ciisumference of a circle composed of the six foregoing 

 alliances : 



Then Anonales pass into Pittosporales through Cheiranthera ; 



Pittosporales Grossales 

 Grossales Berberales 

 Berberales Umbellales 

 Umbellales 

 Ranales 



Ranales 

 Anonales 

 and the relative position of the alliances will be thus: 



Anonales .... Ranales 

 Pittosporales Umbellales 



Grossales .... Berberales. 



Ribes ; 

 Berberis ; 

 Nandinea? ; 

 Thalictrum ; 

 Magnolia ; 



