178 ENGLISH BOTANY. 



Sub-Class II -POL YPET AL^ DISCIFLOR^. 



Calyx commonly free from the ovary, or more rarely with 

 its tube adherent to the base of the ovary. Sepals sometimes 

 distinct, but very frequently more or less united. Torus generally 

 expanded into a fleshy disk, sometimes divided into glands, free or 

 uniting the ovary and calyx together, occasionally adhering to 

 the ovary alone, or more rarely distinct from the ovary and 

 covering the base of the calyx. Petal? generally equal in number 

 to the sepals, inserted into the torus or into the base of the calyx 

 round the disk. Stamens equal in number to the petals (or twice 

 as many), inserted round, within, or on the top of the disk. Ovary 

 superior, commonly syncarpous, free or immersed in the disk. 



ORDER XIX.— LIN ACE iE. 



Herbs, undershrubs, shrubs, or rarely trees, glabrous or hairy. 

 Leaves alternate (rarely opposite), simple, entire or crenate-seri-ate. 

 Stipules lateral or interpetiolar, sometimes persistent, sometimes 

 small and deciduous, sometimes entirely absent. Flowers regular, 

 perfect, generally handsome, blue, white, or yellow (more rarely 

 red), in irregular terminal pseudo-racemes often combined into 

 corymbs, or in dichotomous cymes. Sejials 5 (rarely 4), free or 

 united at the base, imbricated. Petals as many as the sepals, 

 hypogynous or slightly perigynous, imbricated, often contorted. 

 Stamens usually twice as many (more rarely thrice as many) 

 as the petals, the alternate ones sometimes abortive ; the fila- 

 ments united at the base into a ring or short tube ; anthers 

 versatile, 2-celled, with a slender connective. Glands 5, entire or 

 cleft, adnate to the outer side of the tube of the stamens, some- 

 times inconspicuous. Disk absent, unless represented by the tube 

 of stamens. Ovary free, undivided, 3- to 5-celled. Placenta in 

 the upper part of the inner angle of the carpels. Ovules 2 or 1 

 to each cell, anatropous. Styles 5 to 3, free or more or less united. 

 Fruit generally a capsule, splitting septicidally into dehiscent cocca, 



