402 



LXXXIII. P-ARNASSIE^E. 





Franeoa. 

 Transverse section of ovary (mag.). 



Franeoa. 

 Seed, entire and cut vertically (mag.). 



Franeoa. 

 Ovnle (mag.). 



terminal racemes. CALYX 4-partite. PETALS 4, rarely 5, inserted at the base of 

 the calyx, clawed. STAMENS inserted with the petals, 8 or 10 fertile alternating 

 with as many sterile ; filaments distinct, subulate ; anther* introrse, 2-celled, 

 dehiscence longitudinal. OVARY free, tetragonous, oblong, 4-lobed at the top, 

 4-celled; stigma sessile, with four lobes alternating with the cells; ovules numerous, 

 2-seriate at the central angle of the cells, horizontal, anatropous. CAPSULE loculi- 

 cidal. SEEDS numerous, tuberculate and striate. EMBRYO straight, cylindric, in 

 the axis of a fleshy albumen. 



GENERA. 



Franeoa. Tetillft. 



Francomca are Chilian herbs, placed near Crasmilaccffi and Saxifragea. The}* approach the latter 

 in the polypetalous perigynous diplostemonoua corolla, nmny-ovuled ovarian cells, anatropous ovules, 

 capsular fruit, straight albuminous embryo, herbaceous stem, alternate leaves, and racemed flower ; they 

 are scarcely separated but by the contorted rcstivatinn of the corolla, sterile stamens, sessile 4-lobed 

 stigma, and dehiscence of the capsule. They approach Crastulacete in the perigynous auddiplostemonous 

 petals, the horizontal anatropous ovule.", capsular fruit, herbaceous stem, and alternate leaves. They 

 have also some connection witli Lythraricai in the corolla, stamens and ovary ; but the embryo in Lyth- 

 raricfc is exalbuminous, and the leaves are opposite. 



LXXXIII. PARNASSIEJS, Endlicher. 



Perennial glabrous HEIIBS. STEMS scape-like, simple, 1 -flowered. RADICAL 

 LEAVES long-petioled, cordate [oblong] or reniform, cauline sessile. FLOWERS $ , 

 regular, white or yellowish. CALYX 5-partite, imbricate, persistent. PETALS 5, 

 perigynous, alternate with the sepals, imbricate in aestivation, deciduous. STAMENS 

 5, fertile, [hypogynous or perigynous,] inserted alternately with the petals ; filaments 

 subulate ; anthers extrorse, 2-celled, ovoid or sub-globose, dehiscence longitudinal ; 

 petaloid scales 5, opposite to the petals, perhaps representing bundles of sterile 

 stamens, and dividing into 3, 5, 7, 9, or 15 branches, each terminated by a globose 

 nectariferous gland. OVARY superior (P. palustris), or semi-inferior (P. himalayensis, 

 &c.), 1 -celled, with 3-4 parietal placentas; stigma sessile, 3-4-partite; ovules 

 numerous, anatropous. CAPSULE 1-celled, with 3-4 semi-placentiferous valves. 

 SEEDS very small ; testa membranous, reticulate, loose, extending beyond the endo- 

 pleura. EMBRYO exalbuminous [or albumen scanty], straight, oblong-cylindric. 



