THALAMIFLOR^ 



197 



This Order is characterized by several dimorphic 

 species. Closely allied to it is Erythroxylacece, a 

 small Order of South America and West Indies. 



Nat. Order 28. Malpighiacece. — Climbing shrubs 

 with opposite entire leaves, petals clawed, stamens 

 usually 10, carpels 3, syncarpous. Fruits samara. 



In this large American Order are the gigantic 

 climbers or lianas of the moist forests of South 

 America. It is represented in India 

 by madhabilata {Hiptage Madablota), 

 a stout woody climber with fragrant 

 bee-flowers and three-winged fruits 

 (samara). The anomalous structure 

 of its wood is characteristic of woody 

 climbers. 



Nat. Order 29. GerantacecB. — Herbs, 

 rarely shrubs or trees. Leaves either 

 simple, occasionally peltate, or com- 

 pound, often sensitive, stipules usu- 

 ally 2. Flowers regular or irre- 

 gular. Sepals 5, connate or free, the 



- y-. , , Fisr. 171.— Flax Flowers 



upper sometimes spurred. Petals 5, (£,■„„,„ ,^a„tissim„m) 

 imbricate, stamens as many as, or 

 double or treble, the number of petals, filaments 

 free or connate below. Ovary of 3 to 5 connate 

 carpels, 3- to 5-lobed, produced upwards with the 

 thalamus or axis into a style-bearing beak, or with 

 the styles free or partially connate. Fruit capsular 

 or baccate; when capsular the valves often separate 

 elastically (see fig. 127), and thereby cast the seeds 

 to a distance. Seeds often solitary, albumen scanty 

 or o. 



The plants of this Order grow chiefly in temperate 

 climates. The common plants are amrul {Oxalis 

 corniculaia) (see fig. 50), with its ternate somewhat 



