

V.3 



ENGLISH BOTANY. 



Stjb-Class III. 



POLYPETAL^ CALYCIFLORiE. 



Calyx free or more or less adhering: to the ovary. Sepals gene- 

 rally more or less united. Petals in 1 or 2 whorls, unlike the 

 sepals, or in 2 or more whorls, passing gradually into sepals, 

 inserted on the calyx (perigynous) or on the torus (hypogynous), 

 separate, rarely united, sometimes absent. Stamens definite or 

 indefinite, inserted on the calyx (perigynous), or, when the ovary is 

 inferior, appearing to spring from the superior margin of the latter 

 (epigynous). Ovary superior, half inferior, or wholly inferior. 



ORDER XXV.— LEGUMINIFER^. 



Herbs, shrubs, or trees, with alternate compound or decom- 

 pound leaves, of which, however, the leaflets are sometimes reduced 

 to 1. Stipules usually conspicuous, free, or more or less united at the 

 base to the petiole or to each other. Flowers irregular or regular, 

 variously coloured, sometimes solitary but more commonly in 

 racemes, spikes, heads, or panicles, the inflorescence being sonie^ 

 times axillary and sometimes terminal. Sepals B, united together 

 into a 5-cleft or 5-toothed calyx, with the segments often unequal 

 in size or degree of cohesion to each other, the odd one inferior or 

 turned away from the axis of the inflorescence. Petals B, some- 

 times fewer or entirely absent by abortion, most commonly unequal^ 

 but sometimes equal, distinct or variously cohering together, the 

 odd petal superior. Stamens definite (often 10, more rarely 5) or 



VOL. III. B 



