222 



CLASSIFICATION 



Fig. 190. — Melastoma mala- 

 bathricum 



Fig. 191.— 

 Sinuous Anther 



ing herbs or shrubs. Tendrils soHtary, usually extra- 

 axillary, simple or branched. 

 Leaves simple, alternate, palmi- 

 veined, frequently cordate "at the 

 base, and lobed. Flowers mon- 

 oecious, or less com- 

 monly dioecious, 

 yellow or white. 

 Calyx campanulate 

 or tubular, lobes 

 usually 5, imbricate. 

 Petals 5, inserted on 

 the calyx-tube, some- 

 times gamopetalous 

 (exceptional among 

 Calyciflorce). Sta- 

 mens of 5 filaments, 2 pairs of which unite to form 



2 filaments, and i free, 

 forming altogether 3 free 

 filaments. Anthers free 

 or syngenesious, one usu- 

 ally i-celled and the other 

 two 2-celled each. Lobes 

 straight or sinuous (fig.^ 

 191), that is, twisted up 

 and down like the letter 

 C/J. Ovary inferior, com- 

 posed of 3 carpels, syn- 

 carpous, the united mar- 

 gins of the carpellary 

 leaves first turn inwards 

 towards the centre, and 

 then reflex outwards, so 

 that the placentas become parietal (fig. 192). Style i, 

 with 3 stigmas. Ovules many, in two series on the 



Fig. igz. — Cucumis 



/, Extra-axillary tendrils, 

 placenta. 



p, Parietal 



