DICOTYLEDONES— DISCIFLOR^ 



309 



ultimately separate from the carpophore from below upwards 

 by the curling up of the styles, which remaiu adherent at the 

 summit. Seeds without albumen ; cotyledons foliaceous, con- 

 volute. 



Diagnosis. — Herbs or shrubs, with simple lea^■es, membranous 

 stipules, and swollen nodes. Sepals 5, imbricate. Petals 

 twisted in aestivation. Stamens hypogynous, generally united 

 at the base. Fruit consisting of 5 carpels attached by means of 

 their styles to an elongated axis or carpophore, from which they 

 separate when ripe from below upwards by the curling up of 

 the styles. Seeds ] in each carpel, exalbuminous ; embryo with 

 foliaceous convolute cotyledons. 



Fig. 1076. 



Fi.i. 1077. 



Fig. 1078. 



Fig. 1079. 



Fig. 1076. A portion of the flowering stem of Geranium siilvulicnm. Fii/. 



1077. The androeoinin and gynoeoium of the same. Fig. 1078. The pistil, 



partially matured, surrounded by the persistent calyx. Fici. 1079. 



Ti-ausverse section of the seed. 



Distribution and Numbers. — Some are distributed over 

 various parts of the world, but they abound at the Cape of 

 Good Hope. E/amples of the Genera : — Erodium, L'Heritier ; 

 Geranium, Linri. ; Pelargonium, L'Heritier. There are nearly 

 550 species. 



Projieviies and Uses.— Astringent, resinous, and aromatic 

 qualities are the more important properties of the plants of this 

 order. Many are remarkable for the beauty of their flowers, 

 and others for the agreeable odours of their leaves and flowers, 

 which render them useful in perfumery. 



Order 90. BalsaminaoejE, the Balsam Order. — Character. 

 Herbaceous plants with succulent stems and a watery juice. 

 Leaves alternate or opposite, simple, exstipulate. Flowers 



