Mirabilis, NYCTAGINEZ. 861 
to the ovary. Torus small, or raised and stalk-like. Stamens few, 
rarely numerous, inserted on torus or rarely on base of perianth. 
Carpels 1 or more, free or connate. 
Order CI. NYCTAGINEZA. 
Herbs, shrubs, or trees. Leaves usually opposite, entire ; 
stipules 0. Flowers hermaphrodite, rarely 1-sexual, regular, 
sometimes PE often disposed in terminal and axillary, 
panicled or corymbos Pere ra aeely racemed or solitary, some- 
times umbellate or sail ate; bra often en free or 
connate. Perianth usually ae petaloid, segments connate in 
an inferior, monophyllous, persistent ie campanulate, funnel- 
shaped, or galver- shaped, often thickened below, enclosing the 
fruit; limb persistent or deciduous, rire lobed; lobes plicate in 
bud. Stamens 8-30, hypogynous, sometimes unilateral ; filaments 
usually unequal, inflexed in bud; anthers included or exserted, 
id 
sessile or stipitate, often somewhat elon gated, forming a mem- 
branous, included, 1-locular ovary ; ovule solitary, basal, erect, 
campylotropous ; ; Style filiform or capillary or 0, involute in bud ; 
stigma sm 1, simple or multifid. vuit membranous, indehis- 
cent, enclosed in the coriaceous perianth-base. Seed erect; testa 
adherent ; albumen soft o r floury ; ; embryo stra ight with con- 
duplicate cotyledons, or incurved ; vas eet inferior. 
Embryo hooked ; ; agitate long; ; limb of iipeibe plicate :-— 
Leaves opposi rbs: 
Flowers Rll ; bract: Mirabilis 
Embryo Straight ; radicle short ; limb of perianth indplentevalate ’ 
flowers small, in panicled cymes 
762. Mirabilis Linn. 
Glabrous or glandular herbs, 2-3-chotomously branched; root 
often tuberous : ; leaves opposite, the lower petioled, the upper 
Sessile. Flowers rather lar arge, in branched, usually dense, involu- 
crate cymes, the involucres 1- or more- -flowered, calyx-like, 
5-lobed, with erect, acuminate, imbricate segments, not sulaieine 
