XLI. OXALIDE^. 



297 



Oxalis. 



I'ruit. Oxalis. 



Seed without 



its epidermis 



(mag.). 



Oxalis corniculata. 



Oxalis. 

 Vertical section of flower (mag.). 



Oxalis. 



Pistil and 



androscinm (mag.) . 



Oxalis. 



Seed clothed 



with its elastic 



epidermis 



(mag.). 



OvAET 6-lobe<3, cells 5, opposite to the petals; styles 6, filiform, free, or shortly 

 connate, persistent ; stigmas capitate, sometimes 2-fid or laciniate ; ovules pendulous 

 from the inner angle of the cells, solitary or numerous, 1-seriate, anatropous. 

 Fruit generally capsular, cylindric, ovoid or subglobose, 5-lobed, cells opening 

 longitudinally at the back, valves not separating from the placentiferous column, 

 rarely an oblong 5-furrowed and indehiscent berry {Aven-rhoa). Seeds pendulous, 

 usually clothed with a fleshy arilliform epidermis which separates elastically; 

 testa crustaceous ; albumen fleshy, abundant. Embeto axile, straight or sub-arched • 

 cotyledons often elliptic ; radicle short, superior. 



*Oxalis. 



PEINCIPAL GENEEA. 

 Biophytum. Connaropsis. 



Averrhoa. 



OxcdidecB are near GeraniaoecB, to which Bentham and Hooker fil. have united them (see this family). 

 They are equally near Balsmrdi!ie<s and lAnem (see these families). They likewise approach ZygopliyUecB in 

 their hypopetalism, diplostemony, plurilocular ovary, pendulous superimposed and anatropous ovules 

 capsular or berried fruit, herbaceous or woody stem,compound leaves, and axillary inflorescence; but in 

 ZygophyllecB the petals are often imbricate, the style is simple, the seeds sometimes without albumen and 

 the leaves are opposite and stipulate. , Oxalideee have also some affinity with Sutacees : in both families 

 the calyx is 5-partite and imbricate ; the coroUa^is polypetalous, hypogynous, and diplostemonous, the ovary 

 is lobed and several-celled, the ovules are pendulous and anatropous, the fruit is a capsule the seed 

 furnished with a fleshy albumen, the leaves alternate and exstipulate ; but in Rutaceai the petals are 

 • imbricate, the base of the ovary is furnished with a glandular well-developed disk, the embryo is curved 

 and the plant ia scented and usually glandular-dotted. Oxalid'ece are also Connected with ConnamcecB 

 through Averrhoa and Cnestis,hoth of which are polypetalous, hypogynous, and diplostemonous, with distinct 

 styles, capitate stigmas, albuminous seed, woody stem, alternate exstipulate imparipinnate leaves and 



