Order RUBIALES* 
By Paut CARPENTER STANDLEY 
Herbs, shrubs, or trees, sometimes scandent, the branches occasionally 
spinescent. Leaves opposite or verticillate, very rarely alternate, stipulate 
or estipulate, the blades simple and entire, dentate, or lobate, or sometimes 
imparipinnate. Inflorescence various, most commonly cymose. Flowers per- 
fect or rarely unisexual, regular or irregular. Hypanthium adnate to the ovary. 
Calyx usually dentate or lobate, the lobes equal or unequal, 3-10. Corolla 
gamopetalous, often large and showy, the limb regular, irregular, or bilabiate, 
3-10-lobate, the lobes valvate, imbricate, or contorted. Stamens usually as 
many as the corolla-lobes, equal or unequal, inserted on the corolla-tube; 
filaments short or elongate or sometimes wanting; anthers various, usually 
dehiscent by anterior or lateral slits, dorsifixed or basifixed. Disk usually 
present upon the ovary, various in form. Ovary inferior, 1—10-celled; style 
short or elongate, simple or 2—10-fid, the stigma various; ovules solitary, 
geminate, or numerous in each cell, variously arranged. Fruit usually cap- 
sular, baccate, or drupaceous, 1—10-celled. Seeds very variable in form and 
size; testa membranaceous, coriaceous, or spongious, smooth or roughened, 
sometimes produced into a wing or appendage; endosperm fleshy or corneous, 
very rarely wanting; embryo small or large, straight or curved; radicle terete 
or clavellate, superior or inferior. 
Stamens usually as many as the corolla-lobes; leaves not ternately 
dissected. 
Leaves stipulate, the stipules adnate to the stem between the 
leaves, sometimes developed into leaf-like organs. Fam. 1. RUBIACEAE. 
Leaves estipulate, or, if stipulate, the stipules adnate to the petioles. Fam. 2. CAPRIFOLIACEAE. 
Stamens twice as many as the corolla-lobes; low herbs with ternately 
dissected leaves. Fam. 3. ADOXACEAE. 
* Published by permission of the Secretary of the Smithsonian [nstitution. 
VoLUME 32, PART 1, 1918] 1 
