202 



ALLIANCES OF PLANTS. 



Alliance 4. GucurUtales. Placentae parietal. 



Flowers unisexual . . 34. Cucurbitaceae 



Flowers with a ring of 35. Loasaceae . 

 abortive stamens. 



Petals extremely nume- 36. Cactaceae . 

 rous. 



Sepals and petals alike. 37. Homaliaceae. 

 Glands between the sta- 

 mens. 



Purgative (Colo- 

 cyntK); or eatable 

 (Melon, Gourd). 



Stinging. 



Subacid; whole- 

 some. 



Alliance 5. Ficoidales. Petals extremely narrow and nume- 

 rous. 



38. Mesembryaceae . Wholesome. 



Alliance 6. Begoniales. Flowers unisexual. Placentse cen- 

 tral. 



39. Begoniacese 



Slightly astringent. 



These plants seem to be all connected by a general natural relationship ; and yet it is 

 extremely difficult to fix the limits of their alliances. They appear to be connected with 

 the Syncarpous group through Melastoma and Lythraceae, and with the Albuminous group 

 by the genus Eupomatia, and even by Caetacese, which evidently touch upon Gros- 

 sulaceae. They also pass into Monopetalae by Melastomacese, which join them with Gen- 

 tianaceae. I entertain no doubt about this being nearly the true position of Begoniaceae. 



GROUP III. PAKIETOSJE. 



Alliance 1. Cruciales. Embryo curved. Albumen absent. 

 Stamens tetradynamous 



Stamens indefinite . 



40. Cruciferae or 



Brassicaceae. 



41. Capparidaceae 



Pungent, stimulant 



(Mustard). 

 Stimulant, some- 

 times poisonous. 



Fruit composed of three 42. Resedaceae . None. 



carpels. 



Alliance 2. Violales. Stamens few, with no coronet to the 

 flower. 



Leaves with stipules 



43. Violaceae 



Leaves dotted -\ . . 44. Samydacese. 

 Fruit siliquose . . 45. Moringaceae 



Lea vescircinate when young 46. Droseraceae 

 Calyx ribbed . . .47. Frankeniaceae. 



Roots emetic ( White 

 Ipecacuanha). 



Pungent, aromatic. 

 Subacrid. 



