200 DROSERACE/E ? PARNASSIE.E. 



sessile, usually ovoid, with three or four parietal placentae 

 more or less projecting into the cell : stigmas thick, sessile, 

 as many as the placentae and placed directly over them ! 

 persistent. Ovules very numerous in several series covering 

 each dilated placenta, horizontal, anatropous. 



Capsule membranaceous, one-celled, loculicidally three- 

 valved from the apex, the placentae borne on the middle of 

 each valve. Seeds very numerous, scobiform ; the loose 

 cellular testa wing-like and much larger than the nucleus. 

 Albumen none. Embryo cylindrical, straight : radicle next 

 the hilum : cotyledons very short. 



Herbs very smooth throughout, with perennial roots, and 

 rounded or reniform-cordate entire leaves, which are punc- 

 tate with obscure dots ; the radical clustered and long-peti- 

 oled ; the one or two (if any) borne on the otherwise naked 

 and slender one-flowered scapes sessile or clasping, alternate. 

 Flowers large ; petals white or yellowish, often with green- 

 ish veins. 



Etymology. From Mount Parnassus, on which a plant called Grass of 

 Parnassus was said by Dioscorides to grow. 



Properties. Rather bitter and astringent, but of little importance. 



Geographical Distribution. Natives of the temperate and frigid re- 

 gions of the northern hemisphere, or on high mountains. A small genus. 



PLATE 86. Parnassia Caroliniana, Michx. ; — of the natural size. 



1. Diagram of the flower. 



2. A separate petal, displaying the venation. 



3. Vertical section through the ovary, enlarged. 



4. One of the staminodia, enlarged. 



5. An enlarged stamen, inside, and 6, outside view. 



7. The pistil, magnified, with the ovary transversely divided. 



8. An ovule, much magnified. 



9. Capsule, dehiscent, with the persistent calyx, &c. 



10. A seed, magnified. 



11. The same, divided, showing the embryo. 



