SECT. II 



PHANEROGAMIA 



509 



Poisonous.— Agrostemma (Lychnis) Githago, Corn-Cockle (Fig. 460), a hairy 

 weed, reaching a height of 80 cm., common in grain-fields, with narrow leaves, 

 violet - coloured flowers, and 

 many-seeded capsules. The seeds 

 when abundantly mixed with the 

 grain give the flour toxic pro- 

 perties. Saponaria officinalis, 

 the common Soapwort or Boun- 

 cing Bet, a stout perennial with 

 clustered, rose-coloured flowers. 

 The saponin contained in all 

 parts of the plant renders it 

 somewhat poisonous. 



The following less important 

 families are also included in the 

 order Oentrospermae. 



Nyctaginaceae. — Perigone 

 single, often corollaceous, per- 

 sistent after flowering and invest- 

 ing the fruit. Mostly tropical 

 plants. Species of the genus 

 Mirabilis belonging to this 

 family are often cultivated in 

 gardens. 



Aizoaceae. — Flowers typically 

 consisting of three whorls ; 

 stamens often doubled and in 

 part petaloid ; ovary multi- 

 locular. Succulent plants, 

 chiefly occurring in South Africa. 

 Many species of Mesembryan- 

 thernum are cultivated as orna- 

 mental plants. 



Phytolaccaceae. — A represent- 

 ative species of this family is the common Pokeweed or Pigeon Berry, Phytolacca 

 decandra, of North America ; fruit a berry with strongly purgative properties. 



Portulacaceae. — Calyx dimerous. Succulent herbs, of which the common 

 Purslane, Portulaca oleracea, is a familiar example. 



Fig. 460. — Agrostemma Githago (§ nat. size). — Poisonous. 



Order 5. Polyearpieae 



Flowers hypogynous or perigynous, hermaphrodite, partly or 

 wholly spiral, with numerous stamens and free carpels ; seeds with 

 endosperm. 



This order comprises herbs and woody plants of very different 

 appearance, their relationship being only revealed by the structure of 

 the flowers. The type is most accurately represented in such forms as 

 have at least an acyclic andrcecium and gyncecium, with numerous 

 stamens and carpels inserted on a convex axis (Fig. 461). Flowers 

 constructed in this manner are the rule in the Banunculaceae, Magnoliaceae, 



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