FEANKENIACKffi — ELATINACEiE. 443 



Sypog.) Calyx 4-5 partite, persistent, with imbricated asstivation. 

 Petals 4-5, hypogynous, or perhaps inserted at the base o/ the calyx, 

 marcescent, with imbricated sestivation. Stamens hypogynous, free 

 or monadelphous (fig. 343, p. 217), equal to the petals in number, or 

 twice as many; anthers dithecal, introrse, with longitudinal dehis- 

 cence. Ovary unUooular; styles, 3. Fruit a 3-valved, 1 -celled cap- 

 sule, with loculicidal dehiscence. Seeds numerous, anatropal, erect or 

 ascending, comose; albumen 0; embryo straight, with the radicle 

 next the hilum. — Shrubs or herbs, with alternate scaleJike leaves, and 

 racemose or spiked flowers. They abound in the Mediterranean region, 

 and are confined chiefly to the eastern half of the northern hemisphere. 

 Many are found in the vicinity of the sea. They have a bitter astrin- 

 gent bark, and some of them yield a quantity of sulphate of soda when 

 burned. The saccharine substance called Tamarisk or Mount Sinai 

 Manna, is yielded by Tamarix gallica, var. mannifera, as the result of 

 puncture by an insect called Coccus manniparus. The plant grows iu 

 the valleys of the peninsula of Sinai. Tamarix orientalis of North 

 Western India furnishes galls, which are used in place of oak-galls. 

 Authors mention 5 genera, comprising 40 species. Examples — Tamarix, 

 Myricaria, Eeaumuria. 



Order 22. — Peankeniacb^, the Frankenia Family. (Polypet. 

 Hypog.) Sepals 4-5, cohering into a tube, persistent. Petals 4-5, 

 alternate with the sepals, hypogynous. Stamens hypogynous, equal 

 in number to the petals, and alternate with them, sometimes more 

 numerous ; anthers bilocular, with longitudinal dehiscence. Ovary 

 unilocular, with parietal placentas ; style filiform, often trifid. Fruit 

 a 1-celled, usually 3-valved capsule, with septicidal dehiscence. This 

 latter distinguishes them from the Violet-worts to which they are 

 alHed. Seeds very minute, numerous, anatropal ; embryo straight, in 

 the axis of fleshy albumen. — Herbs or undershrubs, with opposite 

 exstipulate leaves. They are found chiefly on extratropical maritime 

 shores. They are said to have mucilaginous and slightly aromatic 

 properties. Genera, 3 ; species, 30. Example — Frankenia. 



Order 23. — Elatinace^, the Water-pepper Family. {Polypet. 

 Hypog.) Sepals 3-5, free, or slightly coherent at the base. Petals 

 alternate with the sepals, hypogynous. Stamens hypogynous, equal 

 to, or twice as many as, the petals. Ovary tri-quinquelocular ; styles 

 3-5 ; stigmas, capitate. Fruit capsular, 3-5 celled, 3-5 valved, locu- 

 licidal ; placenta central. Seeds 00, exalbuminous, anatropal ; 

 embryo cylindrical and slightly curved. — Annual marsh plants, with 

 hollow creeping stems, and opposite stipulate leaves. They are found 

 in all parts of the globe. Some of them have acridity, and hence the 

 name Water-pepper. Genera 2, and species 20. The Elatines are 

 natives of Europe and Asia, ' Bergias of the Cape of Good Hope. 

 Examples — Elatine, Bergia. 



