40 NATURAL HISTORY UF PLANTS. 



less high laterally connate in pairs ; the anterior concave in preeflora- 

 tion most external. Stamens 5, alternipetalous ; filaments short 

 complanate, subtree or more or less high connate ; anthers 2-locnlar, 

 connivent or coherent introrsely dehiscent. Gormen free, 5-locnlar, 

 produced at apex in a style very short or subnil, 5-dentate or 5-fid- 

 stigmatiferous ; ovules in oppositipetalous cells cc, auatropons, usually 

 descendent ; micropyle superior at suimnit of incrassate funicle more 

 or less obturated. Capsule varied in form, loculicidal ; valves 5 

 (or fewer by abortiou), opening elastic-ally ; columella persistent or 

 with deciduous or evanescent valves ; pericarp sometimes [Hydrocera) 

 more or less fleshy, indehiscent. Seeds oo ; cotyledons of exalbvimi- 

 nous embryo thick plano-convex ; radicle short superior. — Ilerbs, 

 sometimes suflPrutescent at base ; leaves alteruato or opposite, simple; 

 petiole often glanduliferous at base ; flowers axillary, solitary or cy- 

 mose, sometimes in terminal cymiferous racemes; pedicels often 

 nutant and flowers reversed about the time of anthesis. (North and 

 tern. Europe^ troji. and tern. Jsia^ North America, cont. and ins. 

 Africa.) See p. 17. 



VII. FLCEEKEEJE. 



14. rioerkea W. — Flowers regular ; receptacle subplane at apex. 

 Sepals 3 {EiiJlwrJica), or 5 [Limnanilics), valvate. P(>tals same in 

 number, alternate contorted. Stamens double in number to petals 

 2 -seriate, subperigynoiis ; filaments fi'ee ; the alternipetalous longer, 

 base outwardly developed in short gland. Anthers .2-locular in- 

 trorsely riinose, finally versatile. Germens oj^posite sejials 

 and equal in number, free, 1-locular; styles same in number gyno- 

 basic, afterwards connate in column, divided at apex into short stig- 

 matifcroi;s branches ; ovules in each germen 1, anatropous, ascendent, 

 subbasilar ; micropyle extrorse inferior. Fruit carpels 3-5, subdru- 

 paceous, finally dry indurate indeliisccnt rugose, separating 

 from short columella, 1-spermous; seeds exalbuminous ; embryo 

 thick fleshy ; cotyledons plano-convex ; radicle short inferior enclosed 

 at base in cordate cotyledon. — Glabrous diffuse annual herbs ; leaves 

 alternate dissected exstipulate ; flowers axillary solitary pedunculate. 

 {North-west America.) See p. 20. 



