454 



ORDER RUBIACE^E, OR MADDER TRIBE. 



trees, obscure herbs with blossoms which it almost requires a 

 microscope to detect, and bushes whose scarlet corollas are many 



inches long ; and includes 

 a plant which affords one 

 of the most grateful bever- 

 ages that the luxury of 

 Man has prepared, with 

 others of nauseous and 

 bitter taste, some of which 

 in skilful hands, are most 

 valuable medicines. The 

 Rubiacese, excepting the 

 section which contains the 

 Madder and its allies, pos- 

 sess stipules at the base of 

 the leaves ; of which the 

 last order are destitute. 

 The calyx consists of a cup, 

 enclosing the ovarium, and 

 scarcely divided even at its 

 edge. The petals of the 

 corolla are adherent at their 

 lower part into a tube ; 

 their number is usually 

 five, but varies from 3 to 

 8, as does also that of the 

 sepals. The stamens are 

 equal in number with the 

 lobes of the corolla, and 

 are alternate with them ; 

 they are generally adhe- 

 rent to the lower part of 



FIG. 167.-PART OF THE FLOWER OF COFFEE PLANT, the tube. The OVarium 



A, calyx inclosing ovary, with bifid style. B, tube usua lly contains tWO 



of the corolla cut open, showing the five divisions J ' 



<>f its upper part and the five stamens arising Sometimes many cells; the 



from it. . , . . i i . j 



style is single, but is di- 

 vided at the top into a number of stigmas equal to that of the 



FIG. 1(56 COFFEE PLANT, showing the flowers and 

 ierrics, and the stipules at the base of the leaves. 



