SUPPLEMENT. 
THE FAMILIES OF FLOWERING PLANTS 
By Cuarzes Louis Pornarp. 
CHAPTER XXIU.—Continued. 
Characterization of the order Rhamnales was accidentally omitted 
from the last installment of the 
Supplement. It consists only 
of the two families Rhamna- 
ceae and Vitaceae—the buck- 
thorns and the grapes. Both 
are distinguished from the 
preceding group of families 
(comprising the order Sapin- 
dales) by having the stamens 
opposite instead of alternate 
with the petals. 
Family Vitaceae. Grape 
Family. Consists of 10 gen- 
era and about 450 species, of 
wide distribution. Though 
not very large, containing only 
about 40 species, the genus 
Vitis is the most important 
from an economic standpoint. 
The common grape of Europe 
(Vitis vinifera), is among the 
most ancient of cultivated 
fruits. Vineyards are fre- 
quently mentioned in the Bi- 
ble, and the references date 
Fig. 143. The wine grape of Europe ( Vitzs vinifera) , 
back even to the flood: “Noah Original. 
began to be an husbandman, and he planted a vineyard.” Yet it is a 
remarkable fact that although southern Europe is the headquarters for 
cultivation of the vine, there is no single indigenous species on the 
