348 



MANUAL OF BOTANY 



numerous, with or without wings, exalbuminous ; placentation 

 axile ; embryo straight, with flat leafy cotyledons, and the radicle 

 towards the hilum. 



Diagnosis. — Herbs or shrubs, with entire exstipulate usually 

 opposite leaves. Calyx tubular, ribbed, persistent, bearing the 

 deciduous petals and stamens ; the latter being inserted below 

 the petals. Anthers 2-eelled, adnate, bursting longitudinally. 

 Ovary superior, with axUe placentation ; style 1. Fruit mem- 

 branous, dehiscent, surrounded by the non- adherent calyx-tube. 

 Seeds numerous, exalbuminous. 



Distrihuiion and Nuvibers. ^-The greater 

 ^ ■ ■ number are tropical plants, but some are also 



found in temperate^' regions, as, for instance, in 

 Europe and North] America. One species only, 

 Lythrum Salicaria, hitherto has"^been found in 

 Australia. Illustrative Genera : — Lythrum, 

 Linn.; Lawsonia, Linn. There are about 250 

 species. 



Properties and Uses. — These plants are 

 chiefly remarkable for the possession of an 

 astringent principle ,"and^f or their value in dye- 

 ing. 



Order 145. OnagraoE/E, the Evening Prim- 

 rose Order. — Character. — Herbs or shrubs. 

 Leaves alternate or opposite, simple, exstipulate, 

 without dots. Calyx superior, tubular, with the 

 limb usually 4-lobed, or sometimes 2-lobed ; in 

 aestivation valvate ; or rarely the limb is absent. 

 Petals usually large and showy, generally regular 

 and equal in number to the divisions of the 

 calyx, twisted in Eestivation, and inserted into 

 the throat of the calyx ; rarely absent. Stamens 

 definite, 2, 4, or 8, or rarely by 'abortion 1, in- 

 serted with the petals into the throat of the calyx ; filaments 

 distinct ; pollen trigonal. Ovary inferior, 2 — 4-celled ; placentas 

 axile ; style 1, filiform ; stigma lobed or capitate. Fruit cap- 

 sular, or succulent and indehiscent, 2 — 4-celled. Seeds nume- 

 rous, without albumen ; embryo straight. 



Diagnosis. — Herbs or shrubs, with simple exstipulate dotless 

 leaves. Calyx superior, 2 — 4-lobed, valvate in eestivation. Petals 

 usually equal in number to the lobes of the calyx, with a twisted 

 sestivation, or rarely absent. Stamens few, inserted into the 

 throat of the calyx with the petals. Ovary inferior, 2 — 4-oelled; 



Fig. 1110. Terti- 

 cal section of 

 the flower of a 

 species of Wil- 

 low- lierb {Epi- 

 lobium). 



