278 MANUAL OF BOTANY 



Sub-order 2. — Capjjarece. — Fruit baccate andindehiscent. Illus 

 trative Genera : — Cadaba, Forsl:. ; Capparis, Linn. 



Distribution and Numbers. — The plants of the order are 

 found in tropical and subtropical regions of the globe. In 

 Africa they are especially abundant.. The common Caper (Co^;- 

 paris sjpinosa), which inhabits rockyplaces in the south of Europe, 

 is the only European species, and also that one which is found 

 farthest north. The order contains about 360 species. 



Properties and Uses. — In their properties these plants re- 

 semble in many respects the Cruciferse, being generally pun- 

 gent, stimulant, and antiscorbutic. Others are aperient, diuretic, 

 and anthelmintic. In some plants the pungent principle is 

 highly concentrated, or probably is in itself deleterious, so that 

 those in which it is found are very poisonous. 



Order 59. Eesedace^, the Mignonette Order. — Character. 

 — Herbs, or rarely small shrubs. Leaves alternate, entire or 

 divided, exstipulate, or with minute glandular stipules. Calyx 

 with from 4 to 7 divisions. Petals 2 — 7, entire or with a deeply 

 lobed or fringed limb, unequal. Disc fleshy, large, hypogynous, 

 one-sided. Stamens definite, inserted on the disc. Ovary sessile, 

 1-celIed ; ovules amphitropous or campylotropous ; placentas 

 parietal ; stigmas 3, sessile. Fruit usually opening at the 

 apex long before the seeds are ripe, 1-celled. Seeds usually 

 numerous, reniform ; embryo om'ved, without albumen. 



Diagnosis. — Usually herbs, with alternate leaves and unsym- 

 metrical flowers. Disc large, hypogynous, one-sided. Stamens 

 definite, not tetradynamous. Ovary sessile, 1-celled, with parie- 

 tal placentation ; stigmas 3, sessile. Fruit usually opening 

 at the apex before the seeds are ripe. Seeds generally nume- 

 rous, reniform, exalbuminous. 



Distribution and Numbers. — They are chiefly natives of 

 Europe and the adjoining parts of Africa and Asia. A few 

 occur in the north of India, Cape of Good Hope, and California. 

 Illustrative Genera: — Eeseda,Ijmm.; Astrocarpus, JVecft. There 

 are about 45 species in this order. 



Properties and Uses. — But little is known of their properties. 

 The plants are generally somewhat acrid, and were formerly 

 supposed to be sedative. 



Order 60. CiSTACE^iE, the Bock-rose Order. — Character. — 

 Shrubs or herbs, often viscid. Leaves opposite or alternate, entire, 

 stipulate or exstipulate. Flowers showy. ' Sepals usually 5, 

 sometimes 3, persistent, unequal ; cestivation of the three inner 



