782 



THE SUBDIVISIONS OF THE VEGETABLE KINGDOM. 



each, and spring from the fleshy annular or tubular hypanthium which rises up 

 above the ovary. The fruit is baccate, drupaceous, or capsular. 



The Granatacese and Onagracese contain watery juices, whilst the species belong- 

 ing to the other families are more or less rich in aromatic substances and etherial 

 oils. Several are used as spices. Allspice is derived from Pimenta officinalis, and 

 cloves are prepared from the flower-buds of Eugenia caryophyllata. The Circaee» 

 are small and delicate herbs, the Chamselaucese are dwarf shrubs; whUst the genus 

 Eucalyptus of the family Myrtacese includes several species which are amongst the 

 highest trees in the world (see vol. i. p. 723). The flower in Girccea exhibits two 

 sepals, two petals, and two stamens in order (see fig. 261^, p. 236). In (Enothera 

 and Epilohium the calyx and the corolla are composed of one 4-partite whorl each, 

 and the androecium of 2 such whorls (see fig. 281, p. 282, and fig. 300, p. 354). In 

 Eucalyptus, Myrtus, and many other genera the number of stamens amounts to over 



Fig. 439.— Myrtales. 



1 Melaleuca. Longitudinal section through the flower. 2 Flower-bud of Eucalyptus gMulus; the connate sepals are detached 

 from'the receptacle as a lid when the bud opens, s Fruit of Eucalyptus globulus. (After Baillon.) 



100; in Melaleuca (see fig. 284 *, p. 292) the stamens are coherent in bunches. Where 

 the petals are suppressed, the filiform filaments are white or bright red and yellow. 

 In the Fuchsias the sepals are coloured like petals; in some species of the genus 

 Eucalyptus the sepals, which are joined together so as to form a lid, become detached 

 from the floral receptacle before the flower opens. This remarkable phenomenon 

 is shown in fig. 439^. The hypanthium which invests the ovary exhibits every 

 possible transition in form, from a shallow saucer to a long tube (see fig. 266, p., 247). 

 The ovary is in several families divided by septa, composed of tissue pertaining to 

 the receptacle, which extend from the central column to the wall of the ovary. In 

 Granataceae {Punica Oranatum) the ovary is in addition divided by a plate of tissue 

 into an upper and a lower story, and placentas are developed in the chambers of 

 "both stories. The fruits of several Lecythidace^, e.g. those of Lecythis, open with a 

 lid; those of Eucalyptus are in the form of hard woody capsules, which dehisce at 

 the top by means of valves, pores, or slits (see fig. 439'). The fruits oi Girccea are 

 indehiscent; those of Epilohium,, &c., are capsular, and open by valves. Many 

 Myrtacese and the Fuchsias have baccate fruits. The fruit of the Pomegranate 

 {Punica Oranatum) resembles an apple. The seeds of Bertholletia excelsa of the 

 family Lecythidaceae are known as Brazil nuts, and have a coat as hard as stone; 



