40 NATURAL HISTORY OF PLANTS. 



less high laterally connate in pairs ; the anterior concave in preeflora- 

 tion most external. Stamens 5, alternipetalous ; filaments short 

 complanate, subfree or more or less high connate ; anthers 2-lociilar, 

 connivent or coherent introrsely dehiscent. Germen free, 5-locular, 

 produced at apex in a style very short or subnU, 5-dentate or 5-fid- 

 stigmatiferous ; ovules in oppositipetalous cells oo, anatropous, usually 

 descendent ; micropyle superior at summit of incrassate funicle more 

 or less obturated. Capsule varied in form, loculicidal ; valves 5 

 (or fewer by abortion), opening elastically ; columella persistent or 

 with deciduous or evanescent valves ; pericarp sometimes {Hydrocera) 

 more or less fleshy, indehiscent. Seeds oo ; cotyledons of exalbumi- 

 nous embryo thick plano-convex; radicle short superior. — Herbs, 

 sometimes suffrutescent at base ; leaves alternate or opposite, simple ; 

 petiole often glanduliferous at base ; flowers axillary, solitary or cy- 

 mose, sometimes iu terminal cymiferous racemes; pedicels often 

 nutant and flowers reversed about the time of anthesis. (North and 

 tern. Europe^ trop. and tern. Asia, North America, cont. and ins. 

 Africa.) See p. 17. 



VII. FLCEEKEE^. 



14. Floerkea W. — Flowers regular ; receptacle subplane at apex. 

 Sepals 3 {Eufloirkea), or 5 {IAmnanthes\ valvate. Petals same in 

 number, alternate contorted. Stamens double in number to petals 

 2 -seriate, subperigynous ; filaments free ; the alternipetalous longer, 

 base outwardly developed . in short gland. Anthers 2-locular in- 

 trorsely rimose, finally versatile. Germens opposite sepals- 

 and equal ia number, free, 1-locular ; styles same in number gyno- 

 basic, afterwards connate in column, divided at apex into short stig- 

 matiferous branches ; ovules ia each germen 1, anatropous, ascendent, 

 subbasilar ; micropyle extrorse inferior. Fruit carpels 3-5, subdru- 

 paceous, finally dry indurate indehiscent rugose, separating 

 from short columella, 1-spermous; seeds exalbuminous ; embryo 

 thick fleshy; cotyledons plano-convex ; radicle short inferior enclosed 

 at base in cordate cotyledon. — Glabrous diffuse annual herbs ; leaves 

 alternate dissected exstipulate ; flowers axillary solitary pedunculate. 

 (^North-west America.) See p. 20. 



