DICOTYLEDONES— COROLLIFLOEiB 



379 



vated. The fruits of many species are edible, as tliose of Astro- 

 loma humifusum, the Tasmanian Cranberry ; Leucopogon Bichei, 

 the Native Currant of Austraha ; Lisswnthe sapida, and others. 

 Orders 111 and 178. Diapensiace^ and Stilbaoe«. — These 

 are two small orders of shrubby plants, which are placed by 

 Lindley in his Gentianal alliance, and regarded by him as nearly 

 allied to Loganiacese. The Diapensiaeese are better regarded, 

 however, as being near to the Ericaceae ; some botanists refer 

 them to Convolvulacese. They have also affinities with both 

 Polemoniaoese and Hydrophyllaceae. They are but 2 genera 

 and 2 species, the uses of which are unknown. They are natives 

 of North America and Northern Europe. — The Stilbacese, of 

 which there are 3 genera and 7 species, without any known uses, 

 are natives of the Cape of Good Hope. 



Fig. 1143. 



Fig. 1144. 



/V(7. 1143. Diagram of the flower of a 



Sfpecies of Plumbago. Fig. 1144. 



Sporopliylls of the same. 



Cohort II. — Primulales. 



Orderlld. PLUMBAGiNACEiE, the Thrift Order. — Character. 

 Herbs or under shrubs . Leaves entire, alternate or radical, ex- 

 stipulate. Flowers regular. Calyx tubular, plaited, persistent, 

 5-partite. Corolla membranous, 5 -partite or of 5 petals, or 

 rarely absent. Stamens 5, opposite the petals, to which they 

 are attached when the corolla is polypetalous and hypogynous, 

 and opposite to the divisions of the coroUa when this is gamo- 

 petalous. OtJari/ 1-celled ; oiJiiZe solitary, suspended from a long 

 funiculus arising from the base of the cell ; styles usually 5, some- 



