380 



MANUAli OF BOTANY 



times 3 or 4. Fruit utricular, or dehiscing by valves at the 

 apex. Seed solitary ; embryo straight ; albumen mealy, and 

 small in quantity. 



Distribution and Numbers. — Chiefly found growing on the 

 seashore and in salt marshes in various parts of the globe, but 

 by far the greater number inhabit temperate regions. Illustra- 

 tive Genera: — Armeria, Willd.; Plumbago, Tourn. There are 

 about 250 species. 



Properties and Uses. — Of little importance, but acridity and 

 astringency appear to be the most remarkable properties of the 

 plants of this order. 



Order 180. Pbimulace^, the Primrose Order. — C haracter. 

 Herbs. Leaves cauline, and then simple, opposite, whorled, or 



Fig. 1145. 



Pig. 1146. 



Fig. 1147. 



Fig. 1145. Flower of tlie Pimpernel (AnagalUs arvensis). 



c. Calyx. ^. Petals, s. Stamens. Fig. 1146. Vertical 



section of the flower of the same. pi. Free central 



placenta, s. Style and capitate stigma. Fig. 1147. 



J^ Vertical section of the seed of Primula elatior. t. In- 



teguments, p. Altnmen. e. Embryo, li. Hilum. 



rarely alternate, exstipulate ; or radical. Flowers regular, perfect. 

 Calyx generally 4-cleft, or rarely 4 — 5-cleft, persistent, inferior, or 

 semi-superior in Samolus. Corolla usually 5- or rarely 4 — 9-oleft, 

 very rarely absent, or rarely of distinct petals. Stamens equal 

 in number to the segments of the corolla or separate petals, and 

 opposite to them, or in apetalous flowers hypogynous and alter- 

 nating with the divisions of the calyx. Ovary superior, or rarely 

 partly inferior, 1-celled ; placenta free central ; style 1 ; stigma 

 capitate. Fruit a capsule, dehiscing transversely, and forming 

 a pyxis, or opening by valves. Seeds numerous, with fleshy or 

 horny albumen ; embryo placed transversely to the hilmn. 



Diagnosis. — Herbs with simple, exstipulate, cauline or radical 



