FAMILIES OF FLOWERING PLANTS 123 
handsome climbing shrub of our southern States, Decumaria. Mention 
should also be made of the anomalous genus Parnassia, the “ grass-of- 
Parnassus,” which is now very generally referred here, though it might 
better be made the type of a distinct family. The flowers are remark- 
able for the clusters of staminodia (imperfect stamens) borne at the 
base of each petal (see Fig. 108). 
Family Grossulariaceae. Gooseberry Family. Contains only the 
genus Ribes, with about 75 spacies, natives of the north temperate zone. 
Besides the garden gooseberry q 
(R. Uva-crispa) and the currant 
(2. rubrum), the genus contains 
several species ornamental in cul- 
tivation. All are shrubs, with al- 
ternate leaves and flowers having 
the tube of the calyx entirely 
united with the ovary, and the 4 
or 5 small petals borne on the 
calyx. The ovary has 2 distinct 
or united styles, and becomes in 
fruit a pulpy berry, crowned by 
the persistent calyx. 
Family Cephalotaceae. Ceph- 
alotus family. A monotypic fam- 
ily, consisting of the Australian 
plant Cephalotus follicularis, which 
calls to recollection the pitcher- 
plants. It is a very short-stemmed 
herb, with spoon-shaped or stalked 
leaves; the “pitchers” are short 
and thick, with a lid like those of 
: ; Fig. 109. The southern witch-hazel (Fothergilla 
the Nepenthaceae, the rim being Carolina); a flowering branch with detached en- 
larged capsule. Original. 
fringed with hairs. The singular 
feature about these pitcher-like bodies, however, is that they are entirely 
distinct from the true leaves, being borne on separate stalks. The 
flowers are borne in a long spike, and are destitute of corolla. 
Family Pittosporaceae. Pittosporum Family. Contains 9 genera 
and about 100 species, chiefly confined to Australasia. They are shrubs 
or trees, with regular 5-merous flowers and a 2-5-celled ovary which 
becomes in fruit a berry, frequently edible. Some of the trees yield 
resins and gums; they are usually called maple or mapau in New 
Zealand. 
Family Brunelliaceae. Brunellia family. Consists only of Bru- 
