DICOTYLEDONES— THALAMIFLOEtE 



273 



at the apex. Stamens hypogynous, usually 6, dladelphous, the 

 two bundles being opposite the outer petals, and containing an 

 equal number of stamens, the middle stamen of each bundle 

 having a 2-oelled anther, the two outer with 1-celled anthers ; 

 in rare cases there are four stamens, which are then distinct and 

 opposite the petals. Ovary superior, 1-celled, with parietal 

 placentas; style short, or long and filiform; stigma 6hi\[se or 

 lobed ; ovules amphitropoiis. Fruit indehisoent and 1- or 

 2-seeded, or 2-valved and dehiscent, or a succulent indehiscent 

 pod-like fruit ; in the two latter oases containing a number of 

 seeds. Seeds shining, crested ; embryo abaxial, minute ; albu- 



PiG. 1035. 



Fig. 1036. 



Fig.- 1037. 



Fig. 1038 



Fi'f. 1035. Diagram of the flower of Corydalis, with two sepals, four petals, in two 

 whorls, six stamens in two bundles, and a one-celled ovary with two 



parietal placentas. Fie/. 10;-!6. Vertical section of the flower of Iltipecotim. 



Fig. 1037. Upper or posterior petal of Coi-ydalis, spurred at the base, 



and a bundle of three stamens. Fig. 1038. Vertical section of the seed 



of Fiimnria. 



men fleshy. This order is induflcd^ in PapaveracecB by 

 Bentham and HooTcer. 



Diagnosis. — Smooth herbs, with a watery juice, and alternate 

 exstipulate much-divided leaves. Flowers very irregular and 

 imsymmetrical, and either purple, white, or yellow. Sepals 2, 

 deciduous. Stamens hypogynous, usually 6, diadelphous, or 4 

 distinct ; always opposite to the petals. Ovary superior with 

 parietal placentas ; ovules amphitropous. Embryo minute, ab- 

 axial, in fleshy albumen. 



Distribution and Numbers. —The plants of this order prin- 

 cipally occur in thickets and waste places in the temperate 

 latitudes of the northern hemisphere. Illustrative Oenera ; — 

 Dicentra, Borkh. ; Fumaria, Tourn. There are about 110 species. 



VOL. II. T 



