XLI. OXALIDEJG. 



297 



OxaUs corniculata. 



Oxalii. 

 Vertical section of flower (mag.). 



Oxalis. 



Pistil and 



andrcecium (mag.). 



O.talis. 

 Pistil 

 (mag.). 



Oxalis. 



Seed clotht d 



with its elastic 



epidermis 



(mag.). 



OVARY 5-lobed, cells 5, opposite to the petals ; styles 5, filiform, free, or shortly 

 connate, persistent ; stigmas capitate, sometimes 2-fid or laciniate ; ovules pendulous 

 from the inner angle of the cells, solitary or numerous, 1-seriate, anatropous. 

 FRUIT generally capsular, cylindric, ovoid or subglobose, 5-lobed, cells opening 

 longitudinally at the back, valves not separating from the placentiferous column, 

 rarely an oblong 5-furrowed and indehiscent berry (Averrhoa). SEEDS pendulous, 

 usually clothed with a fleshy arilliform epidermis which separates elastically ; 

 testa crustaceous ; albumen fleshy, abundant. EMBRYO axile, straight or sub-arched ; 

 cotyledons often elliptic ; radicle short, superior. 



'Oxalis. 



PRINCIPAL GENERA. 

 Biophytum. Connaropsis. 



Averrhoa. 



Oxalidece are near Geraniacece, to which Bentham and Hooker fil. have united them (see this family). 

 They are equally near Balsaminea and Lima (see these families). They likewise approach ZygophyHeee in 

 their hypopetalism, diplostemony, plurilocular ovary, pendulous superimposed and anatropous ovules, 

 capsular or berried fruit, herbaceous or woody stem, compound leaves, and axillary inflorescence ; but in 

 ZygophyHeee the petals are often imbricate, the style is simple, the seeds sometimes without albumen, and 

 the leaves are opposite and stipulate. Oxalidece have also some affinity with Itutacece: in both families 

 the calyx is 5-partite and imbricate ; the corolla^is polypetalous, hypogynous, and diplostemcnous, the ovary 

 is lobed and several-celled, the ovules are pendulous and anatropous, the fruit is a capsule, the seed 

 furnished with a fleshy albumen, the leaves alternate and exstipulate j but in Rutacece the petals are 

 imbricate, the base of the ovary is furnished with a glandular well-developed disk, the embryo is curved, 

 and the plant is scented and usually glandular-dotted. Oxalidece are also connected with Connaracece 

 through Averrhoa and Cnestis,\)ot\\ of which are polypetalous, hypogynous, and diplostemonous, with distinct 

 styles, capitate stigmas, albuminous seed, woody stem, alternate exstipulate imparipinnate leaves, and 



