^ DICOTYLEDONOUS* 



The characteristic of having the different celled anthers some unilocular and others 

 b -locular is a striking variation. Torrey&Gray remark, that "the two lateral Sta- 

 mens of each parcel, having unilocular anthers, maybe considered as half StB.mens, 

 formed by tlie division of the two Stamens which correspond to the inner petals ; the 

 true aumber in the order according to this view being 4, one to each petal." The sit- 

 uation of the anthers and stigma in the indurated summit of the petals, in which they 

 remain firmly enclosed till after fertilization, would seem to preclude the possibility of 

 Ike pollen's comi ng in contact with the stigma. To adapt herself to these circumstan- 

 ces, nature has placed two horn-like appendages to the stigma, which extend under the 

 anther cells and by the mere contraction of tHe valves the pollen is conveyed to the 

 stigmatic surface without any change in pt)Sition of the organs. The different genera 

 of this order possess nearly the same properties, and the Fumaria has been tSed in 

 medicine, particularly for its action on the liver and in cutaneous eruptions. 



Order XIII. CRUCIFER.E. 



Sepals 4:, deciduous, cruciate, sestivation generally imbricate. 

 Petals 4, cruciate, alternating with the Sepals. Stamens 6, 

 tetradynamous, the two shorter lateral, occasionally toothed, 

 inserted lower than the others. Disk often with small green 

 glands inserted between the petals and the stamens and ovari- 

 um. Ovary one celled consisting of two carpels, with two par- 

 ietal placentae, which are reflected into the cavity where they 

 unite and form a false dissepiment. Stigma opposite the dissepi- 

 ments (a remarkable variation.) Fruit a silique or silicle, 2- 

 celled produced by the spurious dissepiment mentioned above, 

 one or many seeded. Seeds campul tropous, attached in a 

 single row to each side of the placentse. Herbaceous plants, 

 with a watery and generally, with an acrid juice. 



Tribe 1. ARABIDE^. 



Fruit a silique. Septum linear. Seed compressed, with 

 the radical on the side {Fleurohiza,) cotyledon flat. 



Genus 1. DENTARIA. 



Silique lanceolate, dehiscing elastically ; valves nerveless, 

 plane, dissepiment somewhat fungus. Stigma emarginate. 

 Rhizoma fleshy often dentate. Perennial, herbaceous plants, 

 with variously divided leaves. 



1. D. Laciniata. Rhizoma moniliform, tubers slightly connected. Leaves 

 usually 3, ternate, leaflets incised or irregularly notched, lateral ones lobed ; 

 radical leaves sometimes wanting. Flowers in terminal racemes, sepals lan- 

 ceolate, acute. Petal much larger than the sepals. Taste of the root pun 

 gent, like mustard. 



Pale purple. %. May to June. Mountains and Middle Ga. 4-12 in. 



2. D. DiPHYLLA. Rhizoma toothed, creeping. Leaves cauline 1-2. 

 lernately divided, leaflets ovate, oblong, toothed and incised ; petioles about 

 1-inch long. Root very pungent. Pepper Root. 



Pale purple. %• May to June. Mountains. 



3. D, MuLTiFiDA. Rhizoma tuberous. Leaves 2, opposite, 2-3 inches 



