CQROLLIFLOR^ 



245 



usually gyriobasic (rising from between the lobes of 

 the ovary as if from its bottom). Fruit dividing into 

 2 to 4 nutlets or drupe-like segments. Seeds with 

 fleshy albumen. 



Its distribution is general. The only commonly 

 occurring and well-known plant is hati-soonrh {Helio-- 

 tropium indicuvi) (see fig. 73), a common roadside 

 weed with small pale-blue flowers arranged in a spike- 

 like cyme. Cordia Sebestena, Linn, is a small tree 

 often planted in gardens for its handsome big orange- 

 red flowers. 



The Order is closely allied to Labiatce in the struc- 

 ture of the ovary, but differs from it in 

 having regular flowers, and stamens 

 not didynamous. 



Nat. Order 19. Convol-vulacece. — 

 Usually twining herbs or shrubs, Fig. 2.2.-Four-iobed 



, ,. Ovary of llati-soonrh 



sometimes parasites. Leaves alter- (Heiiotropmm indi- 

 nate. Flowers regular. Sepals in- '^^^ ^"'"^ cynobasic 

 ferior, 5, imbricate, often persistent, 

 sometimes accrescent. Petals 5, connate in -a cam- 

 panulate or infundibuliform corolla, lobes of the limb 

 usually plicate and twisted. Stamens 5, epipetalous. 

 Carpels 2, connate in a superior ovary; cells as many 

 aSj or, by false dissepiment, twice as many as the 

 carpels; ovules 2 in each cell when the ovary is 

 2-celled, I in each cell when the ovary is 4-celled ; 

 stigma 2-fid or 2-lobed. Fruit a berry or a capsule. 

 Seeds usually exalbuminous, with plaited or crumpled 

 foliaceous green cotyledons. 



The Order is chiefly tropicaL Common plants: 

 lal-aloo or ranga-aloo or Sweet Potato {Ipompea 

 Batatas), of two varieties, one yielding red and the 

 other white tuberous roots, the white variety being 

 known as chiner-alob ; kalmi-shag {Ipomoea reptans), 



