4 SYNOPTICAL KEY. 



with alternate dissected leaves without stipules. 



19 Oxalidaceae. Flowers 5-merous : sepals imbricated and petals mostly- 



convolute in the bud : carpels combined into a 5-celled and few-many- 

 ovuled capsule. Low herbs with sour juice and alternate or radical 

 trifoliate leaves. 



= = = Flowers very irregular. 



20 Balsaminaceae. Sepals 5, imbricated in the bud : petals 4, united in 



pairs, rarely 5 and distinct : fruit a 5-celled several-seeded capsule. 

 Coarse succulent herbs with entire leaves without stipules. 



* * * * Ovary compound with central placentae: stamens borne up- 

 on a more or less perigynous disk: flowers mostly polygamous or dioe- 

 cious: calyx persistent or the limb deciduous: cells of the ovary 1-few- 

 ovuled: seeds mostly erect or ascending and albuminous. 



21 Celastraceae. Flowers perfect, 4-5-merous : capsule 2-5-celled : seeds 



arillate. Shrubs with opposite pinnate ly veined leaves and no stipules. 



22 Rhamnaceae. Calyx valvate, the 4 or 5 lobes alternate with as many 



stamens, deciduous : petals often none: style often 4- or 5- lobed or 

 cleft : fruit a berry, drupe-like, or dry, 1-4-celled. Shrubs or trees with 

 simple leaves and small stipules. 



23 Vitaceae. Flowers 4-5-merous : calyx minute : petals valvate with a 



stamen at the base of each : fruit a 2-celled, 2-4-seeded berry. Woody 

 vines climbing by tendrils. 



24 Aceraceae. Flowers dioecious or polygamous, often apetalous: styles 



1-3: fruit, in ours, a double samara or a single follicle. Trees or shrubs 

 with opposite, rarely alternate, leaves and mostly no stipules. 



25 Anacardiaceae. Flowers mostly 5-merous : stigmas 3: fruit a drupelet. 



Shrubs with milky juice and alternate leaves without stipules. 



§ 2, Stamens perigynous (upon the calyx) or epigynous (upon 

 the top of the ovary). 



* Ovary superior or nearly so. 

 .♦_ Carpels solitary or distinct. 



26 Leguminosae. Flowers mostly irregular : stamens 10, rarely fewer, 

 mostly monadelphous (all united) or diadelphous (9 and 1) : carpel soli- 

 tary, becoming a legume. Herbs shrubs or trees with alternate stipu- 

 late leaves. 



27 Amygdalaceae. Carpel solitary or rarely 5, becoming a drupe, entirely 



free from the calyx; ovules 2, pendulous: seed usually solitary. 



28 Pomaceae. Carpels 2-5, enclosed in the fleshy calyx-tube, with 2 erect 



ovules in each cell. Trees or shrubs with free stipules. 



29 Rosacea?. Flowers regular, mostly 5-merous, or the stamens usually 



numerous : carpels 1-many, becoming achenes. Herbs shrubs or trees 

 with alternate, mostly stipulate leaves. 



+■ +■ Carpels united or free : seeds mostly albuminous: leaves sim- 

 ple; stipules none, or adnate to the base of the petiole. 



80 Saxifragaceae. Flowers 5-merous ; styles or tips of the carpels distinct 

 and soon divergent; fruit a 2-celled capsule. Herbs with mostly alter- 

 nate simple leaves without distinct stipules. 



31 Hydrangeaceae. Flowers 5-merous: fruit a 3-5-celled capsule. Shrubs 

 with opposite simple leaves without stipules. 



32 Ribesiaceae. Fiowers 5-merous: fruit a 1-celled berry. Shrubs with 

 alternate simple leaves with adnate stipules or none. 



33 Crassulaceae. Flowers 3 or 5-merous: stamens nearly hypogynous: 

 carpels 3-5, becoming 1-many-seeded follicles. 



