LI. EUTACE^. 



317 



Hue, 

 Vei-tical section of flower (mag.). 



Rue.' 

 Quinary flower (ma^.). 



Eue. 

 Quaternary flower (mag,). 



Perennial heebs, often suffruticose at the 

 base. Leaves alternate, simple, variously cut, 

 rarely quite entire, usually pellucid-dotted or 

 Rue (.Ruia grmmiens). tubercled ; sUpules 0, Or replaced by 2 bristle- 



like teeth at the base of the leaves (Peganum). 

 Flowers 2 , regular, terminal, in racemes or a corj^mb, yellow, or sometimes white. 

 Calyx persistent, 4-6-partite, aestivation imbricate. Petals 4-5, inserted at the base 

 of a shorter or longer gynophore, Eestivation imbricate. Stamens inserted with the 

 petals, generally double, sometimes triple {Peganum), rarely equal {Thamnosma) in 

 number; filaments filiform, free, or sometimes shortly monadelphous, base often 

 dilated; anthers introrse, connective sometimes glandular at the tip {Haplophyllum), de- 

 hiscence longitudinal. Ovabt deeply 2-3-5-lobed, 2-3-5-celled, seated on a gynophore 

 usually dilated at the base into a glandular disk ; styles central, sometimes distinct 

 at the base and top {Boenninghausenia), usually connate, stigmatiferous at the top, 

 or on the angles ; ovules 3— 4-oo in each cell, inserted on a projecting placenta at the 

 inner angle of the cell, 2-seriate, anatropous or semi-anatropous. Feuit a capsule, 

 sometimes opening in 3-4 loculicidal valves {PegoMum), sometimes in 4-5 lobes 

 opening at the top {Buta), sometimes fleshy and indehiscent [Rideria), sometimes 

 separating into cocci [Dictamnus, Beenn/inghausenia), endocarp sometimes crustaceous 

 or cartilaginous, -and separating from the epicarp (Dictamnus). Seeds pendulous, or 

 ventrally fixed ; testa crustaceous or spongy, pitted and granular ; albumen fleshy. 

 Embryo axile, curved or rarely straight {Dictamnus) ; radicle superior. 



PRINCIPAL GENERA. 

 *Ruta. Peganum. *Dictamnus. 



*Bo6nninghausenia. 



RutaceeB are very closely allied to Biosmea, which can only be distinguished from them by the 

 woody stem, the 2-ovuled ovaiian cells, and the usually straight embryo. They also approach ZygophyUecs, 



