SEOT. II 



PHANEROGAMIA 



525 



Poisonous. — The gum-resins of several species of this family are very poisonous. 

 Officinal. — The dried gum-resin of Garcinia Morella (East Indies) yields 



CrITTTI. 



Family Ternatroemiaoeae. — In Camellia and Thea, perianth acyclic, brac- 



TEOLES GRADUALLY BECOMING INDISTINGUISHABLE FROM SEPALS ; andrcecium and 

 gynceeium polymerous, ovary multilocular. Woody plants without resin-canals 

 (Fig. 488). 



This family, which is allied to the preceding, consists chiefly of tropical ever- 

 green trees and shrubs (e.g. Camellia japonica). 



Officinal. — Thea chinensis, the leaves of which when dried constitute tea, 

 Folia Theae, is a shrub with leathery leaves and white flowers (Fig. 488). It is 

 indigenous to China, where it is largely cultivated, as also in the East Indies. 



The order Cistiflorae contains also, in addition to others, the following families : 

 JSlatinaceae, small water-plants with inconspicuous flowers ; e.g. Elatine hexandra, 

 Water -wort. Tamaricaceae, shrubs with scale -like leaves and small flowers 

 aggregated in racemes ; e.g. Myricaria, Tamarix. Dipterocarpaceae ; this family, 

 which has taken its name from the large wings attached to the fruit, consists 

 wholly of tropical plants. From the species of Sopea the officinal Resina Dammar 

 is to some extent obtained. 



Order 8. Passiflorinae 



Flowers actinomorphic, mostly perigynous or epigynous ; 

 androecium with varying number of parts ; gynceeium 

 trimerous ; styles generally FREE AND bifid ; ovary 

 UNILOCULAR, with PARIETAL PLACENTA. 



It is difficult to point to characteristics separating 

 this order from the preceding ; both are frequently 

 united in the same group. 



Family Passifloraceae. — Flowers perigynous, with 

 outgrowths of the flower-axis (corona and disc) 

 between the perianth and andrcecium. Calyx, corolla, 

 and andrcecium consisting each of five members ; 

 gynceeium frequently borne on a gynophore, an 

 elongation of the axis (Fig. 489). 



The majority of the Passifloraceae are tendril- 

 climbers, with large beautifully - coloured flowers. 

 Especially characteristic of the flowers of many species 

 of Passiflora is the presence of a filamentous corona 

 accompanied by successive rings of filaments repre- 

 senting a disc. The members of this family are for the 

 most part indigenous to the Tropics, where many species 

 are prized for their edible berries. 



The tropical family Caricaceae is closely allied to 

 the Passifloraceae. The latex of Carica Papaya, the 

 Papaw, contains a proteolytic ferment, papain. 



Family Begoniaceae. — Flowers epigynous, uni- 

 sexual ; the male with perianth consisting of two 

 dimerous whorls ; the female with simple pentamerous perianth : 

 indefinite, often united ; ovary three-sided, trilocular. 



The Begoniaceae are succulent tropical herbs or climbing plants, with oblique, 

 usually somewhat heart-shaped leaves. The flowers, which are commonly white 



2 Q 2 



Fig. 489.— Passiflora Engleriana. 

 Part of a flower, k, Sepals ; 

 c, a petal ; w, corona ; d, 

 disc ; gy, gynophore ; a, 

 anthers ; gr, stigmas, nat. 

 size. (After Harms in 

 Natiirl. PJlaiisenfamilien.) 



STAMENS 



